9 
1 
0 
4 
6 

GIONAL  L 

BRA 

S 

6 

-^ 

2 

LIBRARY 

UNIVfRSITV  Of 
CALIFORNIA 

SAN  DIEGO     . 


fHE  UNIVERSITY  LlbKAKY 

ONiyERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA,  SAN  DJEGU 

^  JOLLA.  CALIFORNIA 


7 


,Jii|flf 

3  1822  01 2^*^  . 


Social  Sciences  &  Humanities  Library 

University  of  California,  San  Diego 
Please  Note:  This  item  is  subject  to  recall. 

Date  Due 

NOV  ItS'/UUI 

CI  39  (5/97) 


UCSD  Lib. 


r 


LIBRARY 

UNlVfTtsiiy  Of 
CALIfORNi/ 

SAN  or 


The   Story 


OF 


Some   French    Refugees 


AND    THEIR 


"AZILUM" 

1793-1800 


BY 


Louise  Welles  Murray 

Corresponding  Secretary  Tioga  Point  Historical  Society. 
ATHENS,  PENN'A. 


"Ye  Shapes  and  Shadows  of  the  I'lisi 

Rise  from  your  graves. 

Revisit  your  familiar  haunts  nKain, 

Let  us  tieliolil  your  faces, 

Let  us  hear  the  words  you  uttered." 


1903 


Copyright  1903 
By  Tioga  Point  Historical  Society. 


In  tnemoriam, 
€li2al?ctD  £aportc. 


Only  250  copies  of  this  book  have  been  Printed,  of 
which  this  is  7iut?iber  /•-^/ 


Preface. 


The  fact  that  the  story  of  Asylum  has  been  neglected  by 
general  American  historians  should  be  sufficient  reason  for 
having  it  published  in  an  enduring  form.  Of  late  years  not  a 
few  imperfect  and  inaccurate  accounts  have  appeared  in  various 
magazines  and  newspapers,  and  it  has  seemed  that  the  time 
has  come  to  gather  and  publish  every  bit  of  the  perishing 
story. 

The  mother  of  the  writer,  Elizabeth  Laporte,  lived  with  her 
grandfather,  Bartholemew  Laporte,  for  eleven  years  before  his 
death,  and  with  his  wife  eighteen  years.  Not  long  before  her 
death  she  requested  the  writer  to  take  notes  from  her  recollections 
for  the  benefit  of  her  children.  She  also  had  drawn,  from  her 
description,  an  interior  plan  of  the  great  house  in  which  she  was 
born,  and  gave  a  full  description  of  exterior  and  surroundings. 
She  requested  the  writer  to  record  the  story  of  Asylum,  and, 
in  loving  memory  of  her  fondness  for  all  connected  with  it,  it 
has  been  done.  The  truth  of  several  of  her  statements  hu.s  only 
recently  been  admitted  by  those  interested  in  Asylum.  But 
they  are  here  recorded  as  she  had  them  from  Bartholemew  La- 
porte. By  careful  research  for  eight  years  these  recollections 
have  been  added  to,  and  the  writer  has  become  possessed  of 
various  records,  bits  of  memoirs,  «&c.,  not  hitherto  published; 
of  special  value  being  those  of  John  Keating,  which  reveal 
various  facts  not  previously  known  by  the  students  of  the  his- 
tory of  Asylum.  By  far  the  most  helpful  papers  in  establishing 
dates  and  correcting  complicating  statements  are  some  receipt- 
ed accounts  signed  by  some  of  the  most  prominent  men  in  the 
colony.  These  papers  were  found  in  a  collection  made  by  the 
late  Edward  Merrick,  and  were  presented  to  the  writer  by  his 
son,  Jackman  Herrick. 

Diligent  incjuiry  elicits  the  fact  that  the  French  descendants 
of  the  prominent  founders  of  Asylum  seem  never  to  have  heard 

—5— 


of  it,  and  we  must  infer  that  it  was  but  an  episode  in  the 
chequered  life  of  an  active  Frenchman  in  those  stormy  Revolu- 
tionary days.  In  the  case  of  de  Noailles  this  ignorance  of  Asy- 
lum was  no  doubt  due  to  the  fact  that  he  never  returned  to 
France,  but  entered  the  army  in  service  in  the  West  Indies, 
where  he  lost  his  life. 

In  addition  to  personal  research  the  writer  has  had  the  bene- 
fit of  the  work  of  Rev.  David  Craft,  the  first  historian  of  Asy- 
lum. Thanks  are  also  due  to  the  descendants  of  Laporte, 
Homet,  Lefevre  and  d'Autremont,  especially  Mr.  Charles  d'Au- 
tremont,  for  maps,  letters,  portraits  and  genealogical  data;  to 
Mr.  J.  Percy  Keating  for  memoirs  and  portraits;  to  Mr.  Julius 
Brown  and  sister,  Mrs.  Charlotte  Pierce,  for  drawings  and  de- 
scriptions of  the  great  house  in  which  they  had  lived;  to  Mr. 
J.  A.  Biles,  surveyor,  for  valuable  information ;  to  Mr.  Edward 
Welles  for  copies  of  Hollenback  letters  and  helpful  assistance; 
to  Mr.  Frank  R.  Welles  for  researches  in  Paris  libraries;  to  Mr. 
John  W.  Jordan  of  the  Historical  Society  of  Pennsylvania;  and 
to  B.  S.  Russell  for  reminiscences  of  conversations  with  Judge 
Laporte. 

In  research  and  arrangement  the  writer  has  received  some  as- 
sistance from  her  daughters. 

The  original  plot  of  Asylum  is  now  in  the  possession  of  Brad- 
ford County  Historical  Society,  who  kindly  permitted  copy  to 
be  made. 

A  copy  of  this  plot,  excluding  pen-pictures,  inscriptions,  &c., 
was  made  for  Judge  Laporte  about  60  years  ago.  This  was 
presented  to  the  Tioga  Point  Historical  Society  by  the  late  Mrs. 
Bartholemew  Laporte  in  1896. 

Some  of  the  Articles  of  Agreement  are  in  print  and  in  pos- 
session of  various  historical  societies.  Others  are  supposed  to 
exist  only  in  the  Craft  collection  of  MSS.,  in  Tioga  Point  Hist. 
Soc,  the  originals  having  been  destroyed  by  fire  while  in  the 
possession  of  M.  Meylert  of  Laporte,  who  was  the  last  pur- 
chaser of  lands  of  the  Asylum  Company. 

We  have  some  pride  in  the  fact  that  most  of  the  illustrations 
were  made  in  Wyalusing  (to  which  township  Asylum  originally 
belonged),  being  the  work  of   H.  J.  Lloyd.     The  portrait   and 

—6— 


house  of  Talou  were  reproduced  by  G.  W.  Leach,  artist,  of 
Wilkes-Barre,  under  the  supervision  of  Mr.  Edward  Welles. 
The  reproduction  of  the  old  map,  most  difficult  of  all,  is  the 
work  of  N.  F.  Walker,  G.  W.  Leach  and  J.  A.  Biles. 

The  genealogical  part  of  the  volume  is  entirely  due  to  a 
suggestion  of  Rev.  H.  E.  Hayden  of  Wyoming  Hist.  Soc,  that 
it  would  add  greatly  to  its  value  in  the  eyes  of  descendants  of 
the  original  settlers.  Time  was  short,  and  the  work  is  imper- 
fect; but  such  as  various  members  of  families  chose  to  give. 
The  brief  biographical  sketches  have  in  every  instance  been 
submitted  to  some  representative  of  family  for  comment  and  cor- 
rection. The  genealogical  tables  are  arranged  according  to  the 
system  used  by  Rev.  H.  E.  Hayden,  who  is  well  versed  in  like 
work.     The  omissions  are  through  no  fault  of  the  writer. 

While  it  would  be  commendable  as  history,  no  effort  has  been 
made  in  this  work  to  gather  the  story  of  the  non-French  set- 
tlers at  Asylum,  either  before  or  after  the  existence  of  "French- 
town,"  as  Asylum  was  familiarly  called  by  American  settlers  in 
the  region.  This  is  intended  to  be  the  story  of  the  French  and 
has  been  impartially  and  conscientiously  compiled,  corrected 
and  authenticated.  The  writer  is  well  aware  that  some  state- 
ments disagree  with  all  previously  published,  but  hopes  for  only 
kindly  criticism.  L.  W.  M. 

February  28,  1903. 


—7- 


Contents. 


PAGE. 

The  Story  of  Some  French  Refugees  and  their  "Azilum"  9 

Agreement  between  Sophia  de  Sibert  and  Gui  de  Noailles  41 

Extracts  from  Cbevaiier  de  Pontgibaud 71 

Biographies  : 

Keating 79 

d'Autremont 86 

Lefevre 98 

Laporte 104 

Hornet 109 

Appendix  : 

Sources  of  Information 117 

Letter  B 119 

Letter  C 121 

List  of  Tasables  at  Asylum   132 

Plan  of  Association  of  the  Asylum  Company 134 

Articles  of  Agreement  and  Association 142 

French  Accounts  in  Possession  of  the  Author 149 


^ 


The  Story  of  Some  French  Refugees 
and  their  "Azilum." 

Several  years  ago  as  I  was  wandering  about 
the  rooms  in  Independence  Hall,  Philadelphia,  I 
was  attracted  by  a  small  paper  bearing  tlie  name 
''Asylum."     It  read  as  follows: 

1  Share  Asylum  Co. 
Jno.  Keating 
Garrett  Cottringer 

Robt.  Morris 
John  Nicholson 

This  is  to  certify  that  Charles  de  Cadignan  of  Philadelphia  is 
entitled  to  one  action  or  share  in  the  entire  property  of 
the  Asylum  Co.,  being  the  equivalent  of  200  acres   of  land,  & 

c.  &  c. 

Robt.  Morris  President 
9  day  of  June  1794. 
James  Duncan  Secy.  [See  note.] 

This  bit  of  yellowed  paper  which  hangs  on  the 
window  frame  near  the  old  bell,  receives  only  a 
passing  glance  from  the  hundreds  who  yearly 
throng  Independence  Hall.  Yet  the  page  of  un- 
written history  which  it  represents  is  worthy  of 
attention  even  here,  in  the  birtnplace  of  our  lib- 
erty and  constitution;  for  the  history  of  this 
colony  of  French  emigres  is  closely  interwoven 
with  the  personal  history  of  men  of  national  in- 


It  has  recently  been  ascertained  that  this  framed  certificate  is  a  copy  or 
duplicate  of  Certificate  No.  91,  now  in  the  collection  of  the  Historical  Soci- 
ety of  Pennsylvania. 


terest.  Men  whose  names  are  inseparably  con- 
nected with  the  old  hall,  and  those  early  troubled 
years  of  the  young  Republic. 

Yet  not  alone  to  the  student  of  American  his- 
tory do  the  memories  awakened  by  this  bit  of 
paper  appeal.  The  story  of  tlie  colony  and  the 
brave  men  connected  with  it  is  as  pure  a  bit  of 
romance  as  the  imagination  can  desire,  hardly  to 
be  surpassed  by  the  traditions  of  their  prototypes, 
those  picturesque  adventurers  who  fought  for 
existence  in  the  Canadian  wilderness  some  two 
centuries  before. 

The  settlement  of  Asylum,  whatever  its  prime 
motive,  was  the  direct  outcome  of  the  French 
Revolution.  Historians  have  not  yet  determined 
exactly  when  the  French  Revolution  began,  but 
we  will  date  it  from  July  14,  1789. 

This  Revolution  was  the  explosion  resulting 
fi'om  centuries  of  repression,  mismanagement 
and  tyranny.     Its  four  chief  causes  were: 

*I.  The  long-continued  and  exhausting  wars  of 
France,  which  had  piled  up  a  debt  of  $1,300,- 
000,000. 

II.  The  fact  that  the  blood  tax  springing  from 
this  war  debt,  and  from  the  wasteful  habits  of 
King  and  court,  fell  on  the  common  people,  while 
the  wealthy,  who  owned  the  land,  w^ere  almost 
exempt. 

III.  For  1Y5  years  the  people  had  had  no  voice 
in  the  government  because  no  meeting  had  been 
held  of  the  States  General,  the  national  assembly. 


*  Note  from  Guizot's  History. 

—10— 


IV.  The  final  cause  was  the  decay  of  rehgious 
belief,  and  the  growth  of  a  vigorous  literature 
proclaiming  principles  of  independence,  liberty 
and  equality,  principles  powerfully  enforced  by 
the  republican  institutions  of  America  as  wit- 
nessed by  those  Frenchmen  who  had  come  hither 
to  join  in  our  war  for  independence. 

In  the  spring  of  1789  Louis  XVI,  King  of 
France,  was  forced  by  popular  opinion  to  summon 
the  States  General.  Old  distinctions  were  done 
away,  the  King  soon  became  alarmed  at  the 
democratic  utterances  of  the  Assembly,  and  col- 
lected a  body  of  troops  at  Versailles.  .  A  rumor 
spread  on  July  14th  that  the  commander  of  the 
Bastille,  the  old  military  fortress  and  prison  in 
the  heart  of  Paris,  had  received  orders  to  turn 
his  guns  on  the  city.  A  frenzied  mob  rushed  to- 
ward the  stronghold  crying  ''Down  with  the 
Bastille." 

The  defenders  of  the  building  were  captured 
and  brutally  murdered,  their  heads  stuck  on 
pikes  being  carried  through  the  streets  by  the 
mob.  The  building  was  completely  destroyed; 
tlie  news  was  carried  to  Versailles;  the  King, 
roused  from  his  sleep,  said  to  the  messenger: 
"Why,  this  is  a  revolt."  "  No,  sire,"  was  the 
reply,  "  it  is  a  Revolution."  "  With  the  14th  day 
of  July,"  said  a  wise  and  enlightened  witness  of 
the  time,  "the  terror  began."  The  distressed 
lower  classes  took  the  law  into  their  own  hands 
throughout  France,  the  strongest  motive  being 
material  want.  While  the  multitudes  were 
actually  suffering  from  hunger,  news  reached 
—11— 


Paris  that  the  Kin^j  had  given  a  banquet  to  some 
army  officers  at  Versailles,  and  that  they  had 
trampled  the  people's  colors  under  their  feet. 
These  tidings  inflamed  the  rabble,  and  they  set 
out  on  foot  for  the  palace,  and  forced  the  King 
and  his  family  to  go  with  them  to  Paris,  shout- 
ing, "We  shall  not  die  of  hunger  now  for  we 
have  got  the  baker,  and  the  baker's  wife  and  the 
baker's  little  boy."  This  compulsory  journey 
was  named  by  the  mob  the  "Joyous  Entry." 

From  this  time,  October  6,  1789,  the  nobility 
began  to  leave  France  in  ever-increasing  num- 
bers, although  it  was  not  until  September,  1792, 
that  wholesale  executions  were  begun.  Then 
men  fled  for  safety,  leaving  their  families,  never 
dreaming  that  chey,  too,  would  be  guillotined 
(even  the  children,)  because  of  their  rank.  Then 
many  found  it  convenient  to  provide  a  permanent 
refuge  beyond  the  borders  of  France. 

As  the  Revolution  progressed,  and  power  passed 
from  one  party  to  another,  the  bands  of  fugitiv^es 
grew  larger,  and  not  a  few  began  to  look  from 
Europe  to  the  new  world.  To  the  more  moderate 
it  had  many  attractions,  despite  the  disadvant- 
ages which  exile  in  a  distant  and  half-settled 
country  must  necessarily  offer  to  men  nurtured 
in  one  of  the  most  highly  civilized  cities  of 
Europe, 

The  United  States  of  America  was  still  hardly 
more  than  a  wilderness;  but,  with  all  the  crude- 
ness  and  isolation,  she  was  already  enjoying  that 
liberty  for  which  France  was  so  vainly  striving, 
and  for  which  the  passion  had  been  steadily  in- 

—12— 


creasing  in  French  hearts  since  the  days  when 
Lafayette  and  other  French  volunteers  had  taken 
part  in  our  country's  cause.  The  hnks  which 
French  sympathy  and  American  gratitude  had 
forged  between  the  two  countries,  facilitated 
flight  across  the  Atlantic.  Even  if  the  official 
friendship  of  the  two  countries  was  soon  to  suf- 
fer a  shock  in  the  neutrality  act,  the  individual 
ties  v/ere  as  strong  as  ever.  Lafayette  showed 
his  affection  and  admiration  of  the  United  States 
by  sending  the  key  of  the  Bastille  to  Washing- 
ton, the  highest  honor  which  he  felt  capable  of 
paying  him.  And,  while  the  United  States  did 
not  feel  bound  to  maintain  friendly  lelations 
with  the  government  that  exiled  and  imprisoned 
Lafayette,  to  the  men  whom  it  exiled  she  opened 
her  arms.  Lafayette  and  his  countrymen  had 
left  friends  among  the  highest  circles,  official  and 
commercial,  of  America.  Robert  Morris,  the  fa- 
mous financier  of  the  Revolution;  his  colleague, 
Gouverneur  Morris;  Jefferson,  ardent  defender 
of  the  rights  of  man;  Washington,  the  visible 
head  of  the  Republic;  all  these  stood  ready  to 
render  material  aid  to  those  finding  the  excesses 
of  the  Jacobins  unendurable.  Theie  is  reason  to 
believe  that  Gouverneur  Morris,  Minister  to 
France,  lavish  of  his  wealth,  and  keenly  sympa- 
thetic, facilitated  the  passage  of  more  than  one 
of  these  exiles  to  America,  as  later  he  did  that  of 
Louis  Philippe  and  his  brothers. 

Certain  it  is  that  on  tlieir  arrival  at  Philadel- 
phia, the  capital  and  center  of  the  commercial 
and  political  activities   of  the   young   Republic, 

—13— 


the  refugees  were  warmly  received  in  the  circle 
of  friends  of  Robert  Morris.  And  here  were  the 
principal  financiers  of  America:  Willing,  presi- 
dent of  the  first  bank  of  the  United  States;  Bing- 
ham, whose  consulship  in  the  French  Indies  had 
established  him  friend  of  the  French,  and  Girard, 
the  French  merchant  and  philanthropist,  whose 
advice  and  assistance  were  free  to  all;  these  men, 
high  in  official  circles  as  well  as  chief  representa- 
tives of  American  enterprise  and  commerce,  were 
the  promoters  and  supporters  of  colonies  of 
French  refugees  which  were  soon  scattered  here 
and  there  throughout  the  country. 

"  November  30,  1792,"  says  Carlyle  in  his  French  Revolu- 
tion, "Smith  Gamain  comes  to  Robespierre  the  leader  of  the 
people;  hints  that  he  knows  a  thing  or  two,  that  in  May  last 
when  traitorous  correspondence  was  so  brisk,  he  and  the  Royal 
Apprentice  (for  poor  Louis  had  a  turn  for  blacksmith  work), 
fabricated  an  iron  chest,  cunningly  inserting  the  same  in  the 
wall  of  the  Royal  chamber  in  the  palace,  invisible." 

The  panel  in  the  wall  was  at  once  searched  for, 
wrenched  out,  and  here  are  letters  enough  all 
treasonable  to  the  people;  Talleyrand,  Mirabeau, 
Talon,  and  many  others.  It  is  of  Talon  only 
that  we  wish  to  speak.      Antoine    Omer  Talon 

was  born  in 
Paris  January 
20,1Y60.  Talon 
was  n  o  t  of 
noble  birth, 
but  of  one  of 
the  most  illustrious  families  of  the  French  Mag- 
istracy.    He   became   King's  Advocate  in  1777, 

—14— 


•^^f 


"^l^l^- 


[Froni  a  miniature  preseiiteil  by  himself  to  .Ii.lin  Ki-aiinj:. 


when  only  seventeen  years  old,  and  Lieu- 
tenant of  the  prison  of  the  Chatelet  in  1789. 
He  was  also  a  member  of  the  National  As- 
sembly, and  was  distinguished  for  his  un- 
alterable defense  of  the  royal  prerogative 
claimed  by  Louis  XVI.  Compromised  by  the 
flight  of  the  King,  he  was  arrested  and  impris- 
oned for  a  month.  Later  he  was  one  of  tlie  most 
faithful  advisers  of  the  King,  and  with  other 
royalists  met  frequently  at  night  in  the  Tuileries. 
When  his  letters  were  found  in  the  iron  chest,  he 
was  marked  at  once  for  the  guillotine.  He  es- 
caped, however,  and  fled  to  the  sea  coast,  it  is 
supposed  to  Marseilles,  where  he  lay  in  hiding  for 
several  weeks.  At  thiss  time  he  became  acquaint- 
ed with  a  young  Frenchman,  Bartholemew  La- 
porte  by  name,  who  had  been  a  prosperous  wine 
merchant  at  Cadiz,  Spain.  A  decree  of  the 
Spanish  Government,  banishing  all  French  sub- 
jects and  confiscating  their  property,  had  left  La- 
porte  penniless  and  anxious  to  make  his  way  to 
America,  as  Talon  proposed  to  do.  At  last,  hav- 
ing an  opportunity  to  embark  in  an  English  mer- 
chantman at  Marseilles,  Laporte  concealed  Talon 
in  a  wine  cask,  carried  him  on  board  and  stowed 
the  cask  in  the  hold  of  the  vessel,  covering  it 
with  charcoal.  Suspecting  that  Talon  would  em- 
bark, soldiers  searched  the  vessel,  but  in  vain. 
On  reaching  England.  Talon  engaged  passage  to 
America  for  himself  and  Laporte,  who  was  ever 
afterward  his  confidential  agent  and  trusted  land 
steward.  Talon  evidently  arrived  in  Philadelphia 
early  in  1793,  as  Keating  met  him  soon  after  his 

—15— 


own  arrival  on  December  24,  1792.  *.  Ta  o  n 
went  at  once  to  Vicomte  de  Noailles,  whom  he 
had  known  in  France. 

//       '       /      /T         •//  arrived    in 

m(OVU^   <IA^  V^<?«*^^^^^^  Philadelphia 

^r  early    in    the 

summer  of  1792.  He  was  not  a  stranger, 
for  though  eleven  years  had  elapsed  since  his 
last  visit,  there  were  few  who  did  not  re- 
call with  pleasure  the  brilliant  young  broth- 
er-in-law and  fellow  officer  of  Lafayette. 
De  Noailles  had  fought  in  the  cause  of  American 
independence  with  such  enthusiasm  and  distinc- 
tion that  Washington  not  only  complimented  his 
bravery  several  times  in  general  orders,  but  gave 
to  him  the  honor  at  Yorktown  of  receiving  with 
an  American  officer  the  surrender  of  Cornwallis, 
and  of  establishing  the  terms  of  capitulation. 
This  distinguished  son  of  distinguished  ancestry, 
soldiers,  marshals  and  peers  of  France  under 
three  reigns,  well  deserved  the  honor  bestowed 
upon  him  by  Washington  at  Yorktown.  His 
father  was  Marechal  de  Mouchy,  a  court  favorite. 
His  mother  was  first  lady  of  honor  to  Marie  An- 


*  After  narrative  was  completed  the  writer  received  from  J.  P.  Keating 
documents  found  among  John  Keating's  papers,  the  chief  of  which  reads 
as  follows  :  "  I  Matthew  Irwin  Esqr.,  Master  of  Rolls  for  the  State  of  Penn- 
sylvania, do  testify  that  Omer  Talon  Gentleman  from  Paris,  appeared  be- 
fore me  and  voluntarily  took  and  subscribed  the  Oath  of  Allegiance  and 
Fidelity,"  &c.,  &c. 

An  appended  document  by  one  Peter  Lohra  set  forth  that  "  Omer  Talon 
having  taken  such  oath,  is  deemed  accepted  and  taken  as  a  citizen  of  the 
State  of  Pennsylvania  as  well  as  of  the  United  States  of  America,"  &c.,  &c., 
dated  July  11,  1793. 

A  third  document  also  appended,  signed  by  Governor  Thomas  Mifflin , 
testifies  that  said  Peter  Lohra  was  a  notary  public  in  Philadelphia. 

—16— 


toinette.  He  was  brother-in-law  of  Lafayette. 
He  was  born  in  1756,  and  entered  upon  a  military- 
career  at  an  early  age,  and  soon  distinguislied 
himself  by  the  improvements  which  he  intro- 
duced into  militar>  tactics  in  every  regiment  in 
which  he  served.  He  organized  the  regiment  of 
which  he  became  Colonel,  and  was  considered 
one  of  the  best  Colonels  of  his  time  when  he  ob- 
tained permission  to  go  to  America  with  Lafay- 
ette, at  whose  side  he  shone  throughout  the  con- 
flict. He  returned  to  Prance  full  of  the  liberal 
ideas  and  projects  of  our  young  Republic.  He 
distinguished  himself  in  the  National  Assembly 
of  1789  by  claiming  the  equal  adjustment  of  tax- 
ation, and  was  the  author  of  the  decree  which 
gave  the  death  blow  to  the  old  feudal  system. 
He  was  made  Field  Marshal  in  November,  1791, 
and  commanded  under  Lafayette.  In  1792,  dis- 
couraged by  defeat  in  battle,  and  seeing  ti-eason 
and  desei'tion  on  every  hand  in  the  army  and 
general  mismanagement  in  the  government,  he 
became  deperate,  resigned  his  position,  went  to 
England  and  thence  to  America.  It  is  often  said 
that  he  fell  under  the  ban  of  Robespierre  or  the 
Jacobins  (one  of  the  numerous  Revolutionary 
clubs  organized  to  gain  the  ear  of  the  people). 
But  all  French  biographies  relate  it  as  above. 

He  was  obliged  to  escape  hastily,  leaving  be- 
hind him  his  helpless  family;  not  only  his  wife 
and  two  little  sons,  but  his  old  father,  the  Mar- 
echal  de  Mouchy,  and  his  mother,  chief  maid  of 
honor  to  the  queen.  All  perished  by  the  guillo- 
tine.    On   reaching  Philadelphia,   where  his  old 

—17— 


friends  proved  friends  indeed,  he  was  at  once 
welconoed  to  partnership  with  Bingham,  where 
Talon  found  him.* 

Talon  had  plenty  of  means,  and  with  the 
assistance  of  de  Noailles  he  was  enabled  to  throw 
open  a  great  house  as  an  asylum  for  his  helpless 
and  destitute  countrymen,  in  which  there  was 
soon  gathered  a  motley  crowd.  There  were 
members  of  the  National  Assembly,  anxiously 
awaiting  their  families'  arrival  from  Paris;  titled 
officers  of  the  army  who  had  escaped  barely  with 
their  lives;  abbes  who  had  seen  their  churches 
burned  over  their  heads,  and  refugees  who  had 
fled  with  their  families  from  the  French  colony 
of  San  Domingo,  where  in  1791  slaves,  stirred  by 
the  news  of  the  revolution  in  France,  had  re- 
volted against  their  masters  and  produced  one  of 
the  most  terrible  insurrections  ever  known. 

The  casual  acquaintance  of  Talon  and  de 
Noailles  soon  ripened  into  the  warmest  friend- 
ship; for  Talon,  practical,  experienced  and  level- 
headed, was  just  the  man  de  Noailles  needed  for 
his  purpose.  The  two  men  were  soon  as  deep  in 
plans  as  they  had  ever  been  in  Paris.  What 
were  these  plans  ?  Strange  things,  rumor  whis- 
pers, but  probably  no  one  will  ever  know  for  cer- 
tain; they  were  swallowed  up  like  many  other 
affairs  in  the  turmoil  of  the  times.  To  the  world 
de  Noailles  gave  out  that  they  were  planning  a 
colony  for  the  destitute  exiles  who  had  flocked  to 
Philadelphia.     But  if  that  were  their  only  object 


*  For  further  information  about  de  Noailles  see  notes  at  back  of  volume. 

—18— 


why  did  they  select  the  remotest  and  most  inac- 
cessible spot  in  the  wilds  of  Pennsylvania  for 
their  Asylum  ? 

Before  Talon's  arrival,  de  Noailles  had  already 
considered  the  purchase  of  a  large  tract  of  land 
from  Robert  Morris  and  John  Nicholson,  large 
proprietors  in  the  wild  lands  of  Pennsylvania, 
Major  Adam  Hoops,  a  Revolutionary  soldier,  was 
to  accompany  Charles  Bue  Boulogne  (a  French 
attorney  who  had  been  traveling  between  France 
and  America  for  the  last  two  years,  airanging 
purchases  of  land  between  Morris  and  various 
Frenchmen,  and  of  great  use  as  interpreter),  on 
a  tour  of  investigation  to  the  region  then  known 
as  Northumberland  County.  Adam  Hoops,  as 
Major  in  Sullivan's  army,  had  made  the  journey 
fourteen  years  before,  and  was  chosen  as  a  guide 
because  Robert  Morris  placed  in  him  the  utmost 
confidence.  These  gentlemen  carried  the  follow- 
ing circular  letter  from  Robert  Morris  : 

Philadelphia,  August  8th  1793. 
Sir: 

Should  Mr.  Boulogne  find  it  necessary  to  purchase  provisions 
or  other  articles  in  your  Neighborhood  for  the  use  of  himself 
or  his  Company,  I  beg  you  will  assist  him  therein;  or  should 
you  supply  him  yourself  and  take  his  drafts  on  this  Place,  you 
may  rely  that  they  will  be  paid;  and  I  will  hold  myself  ac- 
countable. Any  services  it  may  be  in  your  Power  to  render 
this  Gentleman  or  his  Companions  I  shall  be  thankful  for,  and 
remain, 

Sir,  Your  obedt  St 
To  Mr.  Dunn  at  Newtown,  Robt.  Morris. 

Messrs.  James  Tower  Jr.  &  Co.,  at 

Northumberland,  or  to  any  other  person  to  whom  ^Ir.  Boulogne, 

—19— 


Mr.  Adam  Hoops  and  the  Gentlemen   in   their   Company  may 
apply;  also  to  Matthias  Hollenback  Esq.,  Wilkesbarre. 

[Endorsement  on  the  back  of  the  Copy]: 
I  do  hereby  Certify  that  the  within  Letter  is  a  true  Copy  of  the 
Original,  which  is  in  my  Hands,  as  witness  my  Hand,  this  27th 
day  of  August  A.  D.  1793. 

Ch      Bue  Boulogne. 

These  gentleaien  struck  across  the  country 
from  Philadelphia  to  Northumberland,  and 
thence,  following  the  tortuous  course  of  the  Sus- 
quehanna, they  reached  Wilkes-Barre,  one  of  the 
few  important  settlements.  August  27,  1793. 
Here  they  made  the  acquaintance  of  Matthias 
Hollenback,  proprietor  of  several  trading  posts 
along  the  river,  to  whom  they  delivered  the  letter 
of  Eobert  Morris,  v^^hich  is  still  in  the  possession 
of  Hollenback  heirs. 

Passing  up  the  lovely  Susquehanna,  then  the 
only  highway,  the  explorers  reached  a  certain 
land-locked  valley  on  the  north  branch  of  the 
river,  now  a  part  of  Bradford  County,  included 
in  the  Susquehanna  Company's  township  of 
Standing  Stone. 

Long  before  Etieniie  Brule,  the  scout  of  Chara- 
plain,  had  traced  out  the  windings  of  the  Susque- 
hanna, the  Indian,  whose  chosen  waterway  it 
was,  had  marvelled  at  a  great  slab  of  rock  pro- 
jecting some  twenty  feet  from  the  surface  of  the 
river  bed.  To  Indian  and  white  man,  known  as 
the  "Standing  Stone,"  it  has  been  a  land  mark 
from  time  immemorial. 

This  stone  is  44  ft.  high  from  top  to  the  bed  of 
the  river,  16  ft.  wide,  4  ft.  thick.  The  lower 
edge   must   reach   far  into  the   earth   to  resist, 

—20— 


as  it  has  for  at  least  more  than  a  century,  the  ir- 
resistible power  of  freshets.  It  stands  near  the 
right  bank  of  the  river,  visible  from  Lehigh  Val- 
ley R.  E.  between  Rummerfield  and  Hornet's 
Ferry.  Just  south  of  this  great  stone,  in  one  of 
the  many  curves  of  the  river,  lies  a  semicircle  of 
flat,  fertile  land,  shut  in  on  the  landward  side  by 
the  steep  heavily-wooded  hills  which  follow  the 
course  of  the  valley. 

On  this  promising  tract  of  meadowland,  the 
agents  of  the  French  found  eight  lots  of  three 
hundred  acres  each  occupied  by  Connecticut 
settlers.  According  to  deed  records  of  Luzerne 
Co.,  these  eight  lots,  one  of  which  was  a  large 
island,  were  owned  by  Robert  Cooley's  heirs, 
Charles  Townley  (two),  Robert  Alexander,  Rob- 
ert Alexander,  Jr.,  Adelphi  Ross,  Ebenezer  Skin- 
ner and  Justus  Gaylord.*  They  were  not  how- 
ever the  earliest  settlers,  as  the  plain  was  called 
"Schufeldt  Flats"  after  a  Palatine  emigrant 
Peter  Schufeldt,  who  had  come  from  the  Mohawk 
region  with  Rudolph  Fox  (first  settler  at  Towan- 
da)  about  1770. 


*  Note. — According  to  deed  records  of  Luzerae  Co.  the  following  is 
learned  about  the  transfer  of  the  8  lots  above  mentioned : 

1.  M.  HoUenback  Adm.  to  Directors  Asylum  Co.— 300  acres  in  Asylum — 
January  8,  1796. 

2  &  3.    Chas.  Townley  to  Louis  de  Noailles  Nos.  19  &  30,  May  28,  1794. 

4.  Robert  Alexander  to  Louis  de  Noailles  No.  21,  January  11,  1794. 

5.  Robert  Alexander  Jr.  to  Louis  de  Noailles  an  island  known  as  Stand- 
ing Stone  Island,  January  11,  1794. 

6.  M.  HoUenback  to  Louis  de  Noailles  lot  purchased  of  Adelphi  Ross 
October  9,  1792. 

7.  P'or.syth  lot  sold  at  Sheriff  sale  to  Roswell  Welles,  who  to  Benjamin 
Stone  who  to  Ebenezer  Skinner,  June  30,  1793. 

8.  Lot  of  Justus  Gaylord,  Sr. 

No  record  of  conveyances  7  and  8  to  de  Noailles. 

—22— 


Some  of  Sullivan's  soldiers  also  had  thought  the 
land  good,  as  John,  son  of  Simon  Spalding,  and 
Henry  Birney  had  settled  here.  Mr.  Craft  says 
Spalding  and  Birney  came  before  Revolutionary 
war. 

"The  locality  seemed  to  Boulogne  and  Hoops 
very  desirable  if  both  titles  could  be  secured,  as 
it  w^as  part  of  the  tract  claimed  by  both  Connec- 
ticut and  Pennsylvania."  Hoops  soon  returned 
to  Wilkes-Barre  to  assist  in  securing  title,  but 
Boulogne  remained,  purchasing  early  in  October  a 
farm  on  his  own  account  as  per  following  agree- 
ment (Herrick  collection  Tioga  Point  Hist.  Soc): 

This  is  to  certify  that  it  is  agreed  by  these  presents  between 
Mr.  John  Spalding  of  Sheshequin,  Luzerne  County  of  the  one 
part  and  Mr.  Charles  Felix  Bue  Boulogne  of  Azylum  Company 
aforesaid  of  the  other  part,  that  the  said  Mr.  John  Spalding 
will  deliver  to  the  said  Mr.  Boulogne  a  good  warranted  Deed 
from  and  against  all  persons  claiming  under  title  of  Connecti- 
cut or  Pennsylvania  a  tract  of  land  containing  three  hundred 
and  twenty  acres  of  land  situated  at  Standing  Stone  flats  being 
his  actual  property,  the  said  Deed  to  be  delivered  within  three 
months  from  this  date  to  the  said  Mr.  Boulogne  who  on  the 
said  delivery  shall  pay  for  and  in  consideration  of  the  said  bar- 
gain to  the  said  Mr.  John  Spalding  the  sum  of  Seven  hundred 
Dollars  in  the  following  manner,  viz : — 

50  Dollars  in  money  or  a  note  of  hand  pble  in  9ber  next, 
150  D"  in  his  note  of  hand  pble  in  January  1795 — 
200  D"  in  his  note  of  hand  pble  in  July  1795  & 
300  D"  also  in  his  note  of  hand  pble  in  January  1796, 

the  said  ])arties  binding  themselves  reciprocally  into  a  penalty 
of  two  hundred  Dollars  to  be  paid  by  the  failing  parties  in 
order  to  ])ay  all  damages,  in  witness  whereof  we  have  both  set 

—23— 


our  hand  and  seals  to  the  present  agreement,    done  at  Azylum 
this  24th  day  of  July  1794. 

The  possession  to  be  given  in  November  next. 

(Seal.)  John  Spalding. 

(Seal.)  Ches.  g^g  Boulogne. 

Sealed  and  delivered  in  presence  of  us 

Fromentin.  D'Autremont. 

Matthias  Hollenback  was  engaged  to  secure 
Connecticut  title,  Robert  Morris  undertaking  to 
secure  the  Pennsylvania.*  Of  Morris'  methods 
we  are  ignorant,  but  from  various  records  and 
papers,  it  is  to  be  inferred  that  Judge  Hollenback 
had  to  use  not  only  great  taci,  but  considerable 
of  his  own  funds. f  The  prices  of  the  lots  is  said 
to  have  varied  from  $133  to  $800.  (Just  here  it 
may  be  of  interest  to  note  that  in  a  mention  of 
Asylum  in  a  recently  published  book  in  France, 
the  author  says  the  land  only  cost  the  company 
fifteen  cents  an  acre.)  In  connection  with  the 
efforts  to  secure  title  the  following  letter  is  given 
entire,  and  has  been  well  named  "  the  charter  of 
Asylum." 

(Robert  Morris  to  Matthias  Hollenback.) 

Delaware  Works,  30  miles  from  Phila- 
delphia, 9  October  1793— 
Sir: 

I  received  your  letter  of  the  14  Septr  &  also  one  from  Mr. 
Talon,  and  forwarded  them  both  to  him  for  his  information  and 
consideration.  The  one  addressed  to  him  he  has  returned  with 
his  observations;  but  that  which  was  directed  to  me  he  has 


*The  names  of  those  holding  Pennsylvania  Patents  as  discovered  by  J.  A. 
Biles,  are  Archibald  Stewart,  Wm.  Nicholson,  David  Linsay,  Robert 
Stevens  and  John  Bowne.  (.Bacom,  Bomnier  or  Bohem,  four  spelUngs  hav- 
ing been  used. ) 

t  See  Letter  C,  Appendix. 

—24— 


neglected  to  send  back  :  so  that  if  I  omit  to  answer  any  points 
contained  in  it,  you  must  excuse  me,  as  I  cannot  do  it  from 
mere  memory. 

Messrs  De  Noailles  &  Talon  desire  to  make  the  purchase  of 
the  Eight  Lotts  or  Tracts  that  compose  the  Tract  of  Land  call- 
ed the  Standing  Stone,  &  also  the  Island  or  Islands  which  they 
mentioned  to  you;  but  they  will  have  all  or  none;  this  they  in- 
sist on  as  an  absolute  condition,  as  you  will  see  by  a  copy  of 
their  observations  on  nine  articles  extracted  from  the  contents 
of  your  letter  to  Mr.  Talon.  They  do  not  object  to  the  prices 
or  terms  of  payment  stated  in  your  letter;  but  you  will  perceive 
by  their  decision  to  have  all  or  none,  that  it  will  be  necessary 
to  make  conditional  contracts  with  each  of  the  parties,  fixing 
the  terms,  &  binding  them  to  grant  conveyances  of  their  right 
upon  the  performance  of  the  conditions  by  you  on  your  part; 
but  reserving  to  yourself  for  a  reasonable  time  to  make  the  bar- 
gain valid  or  to  annul  it.  If  you  can  get  the  whole  of  them 
under  such  covenants,  under  hand  and  seals,  you  can  then 
make  the  whole  valid,  &  proceed  to  perform  the  conditions,  & 
take  the  conveyances  in  the  name  of  Mr.  Talon ;  but  should  any 
of  the  parties  refuse  to  sell,  or  rise  in  their  demands,  so  that 
you  cannot  comply  with  them,  you  can  in  such  case  hold  the 
rest  in  suspense  untill  Mr.  Hoops  or  you  send  an  express  to  in- 
form me  of  all  particulars ;  which  will  give  my  Friends  an  op- 
portunity to  consider  &  determine  finally. 

Mr.  Adam  Hoops  will  deliver  this  letter.  He  possesses  my 
confidence,  and  will  be  glad  to  render  the  best  assistance  or 
service  in  his  power,  upon  occasion.  He  must,  however,  act 
under  you;  for  in  any  other  character  the  Connecticut  men 
would  consider  him  a  new  purchaser,  &  rise  in  their  demands. 
He  will  go  with  you,  if  you  choose,  or  do  anything  you  may 
desire,  to  accomplish  the  object  in  view.  You  &  he  will 
therefore  consult  together,  as  to  the  best  mode  of  proceeding; 
and  I  must  observe,  that  altho  Mr.  Talon  has  agreed  to  the 
prices  &  terms  demanded  by  the  Connecticut  claimants,  yet  I 
cannot  help  thinking  them  very  dear;  &  more  so,  as  we  have 
been  obliged  to  purchase  the  Pennsylvania  Title,  which  Mr. 
Hoops  will  inform  you  of. 

—25— 


I  hold  it  then  as  incumbent  on  you  to  obtain  the  Connecti- 
cut rights  upon  the  cheapest  terms  that  is  possible ;  and  you 
may  with  great  propriety  let  them  know,  if  you  think  it  best  to 
do  80,  that  unless  they  will  be  content  with  reasonable  terms, 
that  we  will  bring  ejectments  against  them;  or  rather  that  you 
will  do  it,  &  try  the  strength  of  Title :  in  which  case  they  will 
get  nothing. 

Whatever  you  do  must  be  done  soon.  Winter  is  approach- 
inor,  and  these  Gentlemen  are  extremely  anxious  to  commence 
the  operations  necessary  to  the  settlement  they  intend  to  make ; 
but  they  will  not  strike  a  stroke  until  the  whole  of  the  Lotts 
are  secured  for  them ;  «&  unless  the  whole  are  obtained,  they 
give  up  the  settlement,  and  will  go  to  some  other  part  of 
America. 

I  engage  to  make  good  the  agreements  and  contracts  you 
may  enter  into  consistently  with  your  letter  of  the  14th  Septr. 
last  to  Mr.  Talon,  &  with  his  observations  thereon;  a  copy  of 
which  Mr.  Hoops  will  give  to  you  if  desired ;  and  to  enable  you 
to  make  the  payments  according  to  those  stipulations,  which 
you  may  enter  into  in  that  respect,  I  shall  also  pay  the  order  for 
a  Thousand  Dollars  already  given  you  on  their  account. 

The  settlement  which  these  gentlemen  meditate  at  the  Stand- 
ing Stone  is  of  great  importance  to  you;  and  not  only  to  you, 
but  to  all  that  part  of  the  Country ;  therefore  you  ought  for 
your  own  interest,  &  the  interest  of  your  country,  to  exert 
every  nerve  to  promote  it.  They  will  be  of  great  service  to 
you ;  and  you  should  render  them  disinterestedly  every  service 
possible.  Should  they  fail  of  establishing  themselves  at  the 
Standing  Stone,  there  is  another  part  of  Pennsylvania  which  I 
should  prefer  for  them ;  and  if  they  go  there,  I  will  do  every 
thing  for  them  that  I  possibly  can. — I  am,  Sir, 

Your  obedt.hble.  Servt., 
Matthias  HoUenback  Esqr.,  Robt.  Morris. 

Wilkes  Barre. 

Eventually  both  titles  were  obtained,  though 
indeed  Boulogne  began  operations  at  once,  as  is 
indicated  in  a  letter  written  two  months  after  his 

—26— 


arrival  on  the  ground.  Though  he  seems  to  have 
had  some  associates,  their  names  are  not  known 
to-day. 

standing  Stone,  8ber  19th,  1793. 
Mr.  Mathias  Hollenback, 
Wilkes-Barre 
Sir  : 

I  received  by  Mr.  Town  the  favor  of  yours 
dated  11th  instant,  and  your  boat  also  arrived  here  few  days 
after;  all  that  was  enumerated  io  your  bill  hath  been  delivered, 
and  you  are  therefore  credited  on  my  account  of  L48.10.2,  this 
Currency ;  when  you'll  send  me  the  price  of  the  ox-cart,  cows 
and  hull.     I  shall  do  the  same. 

The  cows  are  exceeding  poor,  and  hardly  give  any  milk;  but 
I  hope  they  will  come  to,  and  therefore  we  will  see  one  another 
on  that  account ;  but  I  cannot  help  observing  to  you  that  your 
blacksmith  hath  not  treated  us  well ;  the  chains  and  tools  are 
hardly  worth  any  things;  the  iron  is  so  bad  or  so  tender  that  it 
bend  like  butter;  I  wish  you  mention  it  to  him  for  the  future. 

The  difficulty  of  having  the  buildings  and  great  many  articles 
of  provisions  in  proper  time  hath  determined  us  and  the  gentle- 
men in  Philadelphia  to  lessen  them,  and  as  Mr.  Keating  hath 
told  you,  the  expenses  will  of  course  be  lessened ;  therefore  I 
have  not  sent  you  the  draft  for  3000  Dollars  which  we  spoke 
of  when  I  was  in  Wilkesbarre,  and  one*  of  the  gentlemen  who 
will  deliver  you  this  letter  is  going  to  Philadelphia;  if  you  are 
not  gone  will  be  very  glad  of  your  company;  will  as  well  as 
you  see  Messrs.  Talon  &  De  Noailles  in  that  city  and  send  or 
bring  their  answer  on  things  relating  to  the  expences. 

I  will  be  obliged  to  you  to  deliver  the  other  gentleman  who 
is  coming  back  here  Directly  as  much  money  as  you  possibly 
can,  or  the  1250  Dollars  which  remain  in  yonr  hands  for  my 
draft  on  Robert  Morris  Esqi'*^  and  you'll  take  his  receipt  and 
charges  it  to  my  account. 

You  may  also  make  me  debtor  for  the  sum  of  LI 3. 17. 6,  which 
Mr.  Joshua   Whitney  hath   given  me  for  your  account,  and  of 


*  deAutremont. 

—27- 


which  you'll  dispose  according  to  the  note  herein  enclosed,  hav- 
ing credited  you  here  of  the  same. 

Esq^'^  Hancock  hath  not  yet  concluded  his  Bargain  with  Gay- 
lord  &  Skinner,  you  know  it  is  of  the  greatest  importance  to 
have  it  concluded  as  well  as  the  one  of  Ross,  otherwise  it  will 
stop  me  here  all  at  once,  the  gentlemen  in  Philadelphia  being 
determined  to  have  the  whole  or  none  at  all, or  to  reject  the  whole 
purchase  from  Mr.  Morris. 

In  your  letter  you  speak  to  me  of  having  bought  from  Ross 
the  house  and  part  of  the  Land,  but  you  don't  tell  me  the  quan- 
tity of  Land ;  I  hope  you  have  concluded  the  whole,  and  beg 
on  you  to  say  some  thing  to  me  on  that  account  in  your  Letter 
and  explain  it  well  because  according  to  your  answer  I  shall 
either  go  on  with  the  buildings  or  stop  them  Directly. 
I  remain  with  esteem,  Yours, 

Ch^s  Bue  Boulogne. 

(Postscript) 

Sir: 

In  buying  from  Mr.  Ross  you  must  absolutely 
buy  the  crop  which  is  in  the  ground.  Everybody  here  is  very 
sorry  you  have  not  done  it  so  for  the  other  purchase,  because  it 
keeps  us  one  year  entirely  without  enjoying  our  property. 

I  have  received  the  cloth  that  was  over  Mr.  Talon's  boat,  but 
you  have  forgot  to  send  me  by  your  boat  the  frying  pan,  salt, 
axes,  (fee,  that  Mr.  Ross  hath,  return  to  you;  be  kind  enough 
also  to  send  by  the  first  opportunity  the  sack  of  things  belong- 
ing to  Michael — which  by  mistake  I  sent  or  left  at  your  house. 

The  purchase  as  concluded  was  of  2400  acres, 
the  noi'thwest  corner  being  the  aforementioned 
"  Standing  Stone"    The  title  deed  reading  : 

' '  Beginning  at  a  remarkable  rock  on  the  western  side  of  the 
Susquehanna  river  known   as  the  Standing  Stone," 

and  the  conveyances  being  legally  executed  early 
in  1794.  The  whole  was  so  accurately  surveyed 
that  ever  since  surveyors  have  come  there  from 
long  distances  to  get  their  bearings. 

—28— 


The  Dame  of  Asylum,  or  as  the  French  wrote  it 
*' Az'ilum,''^  was  given  to  the  plot.  The  original 
map  is  still  in  existence,  in  possession  of  Bradford 
Co.  Hist.  Soc.  Having  been  folded  always  it  be- 
came so  worn  that  about  1840  Judge  Laporte  had 
an  accurate  copy  of  plot  executed,  now  in  mu- 
seum of  Tioga  Point  Hist.  Soc.  at  Athens,  Pa. 

The  town  proper  covered  300  acres  ;  it  was  laid 
out  in  the  form  of  a  parallelogram  as  carefully 
and  daintily  as  a  toy  village.  Its  greatest  length 
was  north  and  south,  with  a  large  market  square 
in  the  center  containing  two  acres.  Five  streets 
ran  due  north  and  south,  crossed  by  nine  running 
east  and  west,  the  middle  one  much  wider  than 
the  others  (100  ft.),  making  413  lots  in  the  town 
plot  of  about  1  acre  each.  (See  note.)  Toward 
the  hills  next  to  the  plot  were  17  larger  lots  num- 
bered and  others  not  numbered.  These  were  un- 
cleared, varying  in  size  ;  100,000  acres  of  wild 
land  were  also  purchased  by  subscription  on  the 
Loyal  Sock  Creek,  2500  of  which  was  divided  into 
town  shares  of  400  acres  each.  When  any  part 
of  this  wild  land  was  cleared  by  a  subscriber  he 
received  nine  dollars  per  acre  out  of  the  com- 


Along  the  river  bank  wore  built  houses  for  the  slaves  brought  from  San 
DominKo,  though  one  niight  juiige  from  the  following  appeal  that  the 
slaves  soon  learned  they  were  where  they  could  be  their  own  masters.  This 
is  addressed  to  M.  Hollenback: 

'"Aziiuin  1  April  ''.W  Sir,  I  hope  you  will  not  take  it  ill  if  I  address  myself 
to  you  and  claim  your  assistance.  A  negro  man  about  twenty  j'ear-s  of 
age  stoutly  built  ran  away  from  my  house  night  before  last,  he  can  hardly 
speak  a  word  of  English,  he  took  away  a  new  axe  a  couple  of  now  shirts, 
several  prs  of  linen  and  cloth  trousers,  ^  blankets,  and  had  on  a  hat  with 
a  blue  ribbon— he  says  that  he  is  free  though  he  is  boiuid  for  no  loss  than 
fourteen  years.  I  would  take  it  as  a  great  favor  sir,  if  you  would  be  so  kind 
as  to  have  him  advertised.  I  shall  give  5  dollars  reward  and  pay  all  reas- 
onable cliarges.  If  in  return  I  could  be  of  any  service  to  you  sir  please  to 
dispose  of  your 

very  obedient  humble  servant 

LAROUE 

—29— 


moil  funds.  The  streets  were  fifty  feet  broad 
and  were  a  marvel  to  the  country  round,  as  later 
were  the  roads  built  to  reach  the  more  distant 
clearings,  for  the  Yankee  settler  of  that  era  was 
accustomed  to  satisfy  himself  with  the  natural 
highway,  the  river,  or  with  the  narrow  rough 
trail  cut  by  Sullivan's  army  in  1779  ;  and  the 
hundreds  of  dollars  spent  by  the  French  in  build- 
ing roads  was  to  the  Yankee  incomprehensible. 
Equally  incomprehensible  was  the  natural 
French  taste  for  landscape  gardening  and  love  of 
trees,  where  they  did  not  obscure  the  view.  The 
French  abhorred  the  Yankee  mode  of  clearing. 
"You  would  think,"  wrote  one  of  them,  "that 
the  American  had  an  inborn  aversion  to  trees." 
And  where  the  forest  trees  had  all  been  cut  down, 
the  French  planted  Lombardy  poplars,  weeping 
willows  and  various  fruit  trees  to  redeem  the 
barren  appearance  of  the  town. 

An  Asylum  Company  was  organized  April  22, 
1794.  Mr.  Craft  says:  "  Fabulous  sums  of  money 
were  anticipated  as  the  result  of  this  specula- 
tion." The  capital  stock  was  to  consist  of  a  mil- 
lion acres  or  5000  shares  of  200  acres  each.  In 
April,  1795,  new  articles  of  association  were 
formed  with  some  prudent  changes.  But  the 
practical  abandonment  of  the  colony,  and  the 
fact  that  the  money  which  was  to  have  been  paid 
in  France  to  Morris'  son  from  Talon's  estate  was 
not  forthcoming,  proved  this  company  also  un- 
successful. In  1801  the  company  was  again  re- 
organized. This  last  company  secured  the  title 
to  large  tracts  of  land  in  Sullivan,  Lycoming  and 

—30— 


Luzerne  counties  and  sold  to  actual  settlers.  §See 
note:  see  also  appendix. 

September  1,  1808,  at  a  meeting  of  the  Board, 
the  trusteeship  was  conveyed  to  Archibald  Mc- 
Call,  John  Ashley,  and  Thomas  Ashley  in  trust 
for  the  use  of  the  Asylum  Company.  The  trust 
deed  conveying  lands,  tenements,  &c.,  forming 
the  common  stock  of  funds  of  the  said  Asylum 
Company  was  executed  Nov,  3,  1808.  As  the 
country  was  settled  many  of  the  company's  lands 
were  sold.  The  residue,  ten  to  twenty  thousand 
acres  was  sold  to  Hon.  Wm.  Jessupof  Montrose, 
March  4,  1843;  he  subsequently  conveyed  the 
same  to  Michael  Meylert  of  Laporte,  the  title  to 
some  of  which  is  held  by  the  trustees  of  his  es- 
tate. 

Among  the  refugees  from  San  Domingo  there 
was  one  who  was  particularly  recommended  to 
de  Noailles  and  Talon,  doubtless  by  General 
Rochambeau.  Of  noble  Irish  ancestry,  but  Fi-ench 
by  adoption,  enthusiastic,    yet  cool   headed,  able 


§  In  the  collection  of  the  Historical  Society  of  Pennsylvania  is  a  Minute 
Book  of  the  Asylum  Co.  Though  its  title  is  "Minutes  of  the  Association 
of  1795,"  the  meetings  recorded  extend  only  from  April  7,1802  to  Decem- 
ber 180-}.  With  these  minutes  is  a  list  of  receipts  for  certificates  of  stock 
with  holders"  signatures,  like  the  one  at  beginning  of  book. 

The  entries  in  Minute  Book  refer  chiefly  to  an  exchange  of  old  certifi- 
cates for  new  ones.  There  is  also  a  subscription  list  with  autograph  sig- 
natures. This  list  contains  many  names  hitiierto  unknown  in  connection 
with  Asylum. 

There  is  also  in  this  collection  [Philadelphia]  a  Catalogue  of  the  Lands 
and  Stock  of  the  Asylum  Co.  offered  for  sale  at  the  Merchants'  Coffee 
house  in  pursuance  of  the  21st  Article  of  Association  of  the  said  company, 
dated  1819.  This  catalogue  gives  no  date  for  sale,  or  terms;  smiply 
lists  of  tracts  and  their  location;  also,  unsatisfied  warrants,  and  shares 
in  Easton  &  AVilkes-Barre  Turnpike,  and  in  Susquehanna  &  Tioga  Turn- 
pike 

Diligent  inquiry  at  the  City  Hall,  Philadelphia,  proves  that  none  of  the 
Articles  of  Association  were  ever  recorded  there.  The  Hist.  Soc.  of  Penna. 
does  not  assume  to  know,  but  doubts  that  any  articles  were  ever  record- 
ed.   For  all  these  Articles  of  Association  see  Appendix . 

—31— 


and    tactful,  y/O  ^^ 

John  Keating       yf^^  tjt'^ 
was  just  the     /y 
man  to  be  as-  (j 

sociated  with 
them  in  their 
enterprise.  His  admirable  business  qualities  and 
skill  as  an  interpreter  proved  invaluable  both  at  the 
settlement,  and  in  Wilkes-Barre  and  Philadelphia, 
and  he  seems  to  have  been  continually  traveling 
back  and  forth,  though  his  memoirs  show  that 
he  lived  at  Asylum,  and  according  to  tax  lists,  he 
at  one  time  owned  six  houses  there.  To  Bou- 
logne was  entrusted  the  supervision  of  workmen 
in  clearing  land  and  erecting  houses,  though  later 
on  Montulle  had  entire  charge  of  clearing.  Build- 
ing was  a  most  difficult  business,  with  all  sup- 
plies, even  lumber,  having  to  be  ordered  from 
Wilkes-Barre  and  pushed  up  the  river  in  Durham 
boats,  four  or  five  days  being  required  for  an  or- 
dinary trip.  (See  letters  in  Appendix.)  Early  in 
the  life  of  the  colony  financial  troubles  began, 
which  may  have  been  magnified  by  the  irritable, 
querulous  disposition  of  Boulogne,  who  had 
charge  of  ordering  supplies  and  money  to  pay 
workmen,  and  who  seems  to  have  had  some  mis- 
understanding with  Matthias  Holleuback  at 
Wilkes-Barre.  Mr.  Holleuback  had  trading  posts 
along  the  river,  and  Morris  and  de  Noailles  had 
arranged  with  him  to  furnish  ready  money  and 
supplies  as  needed.  But  complaints  were  fre- 
quent, perhaps  because  Boulogne's  demands  for 
money  were    unprecedented  in   the  wilderness 

—32— 


where  farm  produce  was  generally  used  as  specie. 
However,  it  was  not  long  before  the  refugees 
began  to  arrive,  as  October  30,  1793,  M.  Boulogne 
wrote  to  Matthias  Hollenback: 

"M.  Dupetithouars  with  all  his  hands  arrived  here  yester- 
day, and  also  M.  Perrault.  The  last  brought  me  a  letter  from 
M.  Talon  who  tells  me  he  expects  to  be  here  the  6th  or  the  8th 
of  next  month." 

In  November  de  Noailles  paid  a  short  visit  to 
Asylum  to  give  directions  to  Boulogne  and  to 
arrange  business  matters  with  Mr.  Hollenback 
and  others.  This  was  his  first  and  only  visit  to 
the  colony  for  which  he  hoped  so  much.  During 
the  rest  of  its  existence  he  watched  over  the  in- 
terests in  Philadelphia,  leaving  Talon  to  be  the 
visible  head  and  guiding  genius.  During  his  stay 
it  is  supposed  the  plan  of  the  town  was  decided 
on  and  the  name  of  Asylum  chosen.  (See  letter 
B.  Appendix.) 

The  needs  and  trials  of  Boulogne  and  his  asso- 
ciates are  shown  in  the  following  letters  to  Mr. 
Hollenback: 

Standing  Stone,  Xber  9th  1793 
Sir: 

I  received  your  two  letters  one  of  the  2d  the  other  of  the  5th 
instant,  as  also  the  11  small  tables  and  21  window  frames  from 
Mess.  Kellogg  &  Delano  in  your  boat,  who  hath  arrived  here 
this  morning  with  the  one  of  Mr  Myer,  bringing  part  of  the 
goods  of  Mr  Talon  from  Catawasay. 

Mr.  Talon  arrived  here  this  morning  as  I  was  concluding  the 
Bargain  with  Mr  Ross  for  his  Land  here.  You'll  see  by  the 
perusal  of  this  agreement  that  he  is  to  receive  from  us  other- 
wise by  you  the  sum  of  fifty  three  pounds  at  the  time  of  the 
signing  and  acknoweledging  the  deed ;  and  in  order  to  enable 
you  to  make  this  payment  I  send  you  within  this  letter  two 

—33— 


Bank  notes  each  of  one  hundred  Dollars,  viz:  100  Dollars 
United  States  Bank  Nol917  order  Wm  Wirt,  dated  2  Jany, 
1792,  signed  Thos.  Willing  Presidt  &  John  Kean  Cashier:  the 
other  of  also  100  Dollars  same  Bank  No9  order  of  G.  Aston 
dated  2d  Xber  1791,  signed  as  the  above. 

As  those  200  Dollars  will  be  more  and  above  what  will  be 
necessary  for  the  payment  to  be  made  to  Mr  Ross  if  he  com- 
plyes  with  the  conditions  of  the  Bargain,  which  we  hope  you'll 
see  fulfilled,  I  shall  be  obliged  to  you  to  send  me  by  the  first 
opportunity  fifty  Dollars  in  cash  or  in  small  bills  of  five  Dollars. 

I  am  told  by  Mr  Keating  you  intend  to  come  up  here  your- 
self; therefore  if  you  could  at  the  same  time  bring  with  you 
cash  or  small  bills  for  1,  2,  or  3  hundred  Dollars,  we  should 
give  you  in  return  some  bills  of  one  hundred  and  you  would 
oblige  us. 

Mr  Talon  desires  you  would  send  him  as  quick  as  possible 
the  6  oxen  beef  he  hath  engaged  from  you ;  he  wishes  also  you 
would  send  the  same  some  unguent  for  sore  legs,  &  some  Peru- 
vian bark  &ca ;  and  3  or  four  franklin  stoves  with  pipes ;  if  they 
can  be  got  second  hand  so  much  the  better. 

Tell  the  masons  &  joiners  not  to  loose  a  moment  in  coming 
up ;  don't  forget  to  send  some  Leather  or  some  shoes. 

I  shall  write  to  you  without  fault  by  the  Post  of  next  Mon- 
day. 

Don't  forget  to  have  the  titles  of  Mr  Ross  well  examined  be- 
fore you  give  anything,  and  see  that  he  agrees  with  his  broth- 
er's heirs. 

I'll  be  obliged  to  you  to  write  to  me  by  the  first  opportunity 
on  account  of  the  200  Dollars  herein  enclosed. 

Standing  Stone,  Xber  1st  1793. 
Sir: 

This  particularly  is  to  beg  on  you  to  send  as  quick  as  pos- 
sible the  window  frames,  the  lime  and  lead  I  have  ask  you;  the 
remainder  of  the  goods  which  Mr  Dupetit  Thouars  hath  left 
behind,  and  particularly  the  nails.  If  in  the  boat  you  could 
add  5  or  600  feet  of  good  seasoned  boards  they  are  very  much 
wanted  here,  and  50  or  60  pairs  of  shoes ;  our  American  people 
here  are  all  without  &  they  would  soon  be  sold. 

—34— 


standing  Stone,  Xber  23d  1793. 
Sir: 

The  mason  Wm  Dunmead  hath  arrived  here  thursday  last 
19th  instant,  Holstead  (Halsted?)  and  the  two  others  masons 
have  also  arrived  here  Saturday  21st  instant  and  are  going  back 
this  day  because  the  weather  does  not  permit  them  to  work. 
By  the  same  reason  which  hinders  me  from  giving  7  dollars  to 
Hatwatter  I  beg  of  you  to  settle  with  the   masons  &  charge  it 

to  our  account. 

I  remain,  Sir,  Yours, 

Ch      Bu6  Boulogne 

As  shown  in  the  letters  winter  came  on  before 
any  houses  were  completed.  The  arrival  of  many 
of  the  settlers  was  postponed  and  those  on  the 
ground  made  the  best  of  the  log  huts  of  the 
Yankee  settlers,  heating  those  without  chimneys 
with  the  Franklin  stoves  sent  from  Wilkes-Barre. 
That  must  have  been  a  long  and  dreary  winter, 
supplies  were  delayed  and  at  one  time  the  pros- 
pect of  a  famine  must  have  been  serious.  But 
with  the  coming  of  spring  everything  was  pushed 
with  greatest  rapidity.  From  the  many  letters 
calling  for  building  supplies,  one  would  think 
there  were  as  many  mails  a  day  as  now  with 
railroad  facilities.  Soon  the  emigres  began  to  ar- 
rive from  Philadelphia,  some  by  the  way  of  Cata- 
wissa  and  others  doubtless  by  the  way  of  Beth- 
lehem and  Wilkes-Barre,  where  they  found 
Matthias  HoUenback  ever  ready  to  assist  them  in 
any  way,  though  he  must  have  been  tried  by 
their  demands  and  complaints.  Yet  they  were 
brave  indeed  to  face  the  toilsome  and  tedious 
journey  before  them,  braver  no  doubt  by  reason 
of  the  enthusiasm  and  hopeful  anticipations  of 

—35— 


Talon  and  Keatin^:  who  seemed  to  have   travelled 
back  and  forth  all  winter. 

Who  can  imagine  the  thoughts  of  those  aristo- 
crats on  arriving  at  this  primitive  settlement  in 
the  heart  of  a  wilderness,  lonely  and  inaccessible  ! 
Accustomed  to  the  luxuries  of  Parisian  life,  or 
the  tropical  luxuriance  of  the  West  Indies,  fancy 
the  change  to  rude  log  houses  surrounded  by  an 
almost  unbroken  forest,  and  every  supply  of  the 
most  ordinary  kind  to  be  had  only  in  Wilkes- 
Barre,  Y5  miles  away.  But  here  at  least  they 
were  safe  from  Robespierre  and  the  guillotine. 
So  the  real  life  began  at  Asylum.  The  thirty 
dwelling  houses  were  not  at  all  palatial  nor  in- 
deed such  as  a  Parisian  had  ever  dreamed  of  ;  in 
fact,  simply  log  houses,  hewn  logs  to  be  sure,  and 
sometimes  shingled  over.  To  the  Yankees  they 
seemed  palaces  with  their  extravagances  in 
chimneys,  doors,  staircases,  window  glass,  shut- 
ters and  even  piazzas  and  summer  houses  ;  the 
latter  a  necessity  for  the  French,  accustomed  to 
the  beauties  of  Versailles  and  Petit  Trianon. 
Some  quaint  little  shops  rose  around  the  square, 
a  small  chapel,  and,  as  soon  as  the  necessary 
buildings  were  completed,  a  theatre.  In  the  in- 
terior the  houses  had  good  floors,  and  as  a  rule 
were  papered  and  very  presentable,  in  fact  the 
French  people  throughout  their  stay  spent  more 
on  so-called  luxuries  than  on  necessities.  A  few 
had  furniture  and  other  articles  brought  from 
France,  jealously  hoarded  even  until  to-day. 
(Some  chairs  from  Talon's  house,  and  a  hand- 
some copper  friar  are  now  in   the   museum  at 

—36— 


Athens,  also  a  copper  candlestick  brought  over 
by  Lefevre.) 

Talon,  the  head  of  the  colony,  with  his  love  of 
order,  resolute  w^ill  and  generous  hospitality, 
seemed  equal  to  every  emergency.  How  his 
heart  must  have  swelled  with  pleasure  as  he  saw 
the  little  community,  to  which  he  had  given  his 
whole  thought  and  energy  for  so  many  months, 
begin  to  take  on  a  homelike  and  industrious  air. 
How  he  must  have  rejoiced  that  through  his 
efforts  so  many  poor  fugitives  would  know  again 
the  pleasures  of  home  and  the  society  of  fellow 
countrymen,  though  their  dearest  ones  were  sep- 
arated from  them  for  a  time.  And  with  what 
joyful  anticipations  he  must  have  looked  forward 
to  the  coming  of  the  Queen,  for  it  is  generally  ac- 
knowledged that  it  was  for  the  Royal  fugitives 
that  this  asylum  was  planned.  It  seems,  how- 
ever, that  the  death  of  the  King  must  have  been 
known,  or  that  he  was  never  expected,  for  the 
houses  built  for  royalty's  use  were  always  known 
as  the  "Queen's  Houses."  Besides  the  house, 
built  by  Talon  in  the  town  plot  and  afterward 
occupied  by  him,  deep  in  the  woods  on  the  Loyal 
Sock  road  near  West  Terry  or  New  Era,  was 
begun  a  spacious  house  or  two  and  a  large  bakery, 
and  other  buildings  were  planned  ;  these  were  in 
charge  of  Charles  Homet  and  were  intended  for 
a  hiding  place  for  the  Queen.  Strange  irony  of 
fate,  even  before  they  were  completed  the  un- 
happy Queen  had  followed  her  husband  to  the 
guillotine  !  The  suspension  of  intercourse  be- 
tween  France  and  America,   and  the  arduous 

—37— 


journey  between  the  colony  and  Philadelphia,  ac- 
counts for  the  long  delay  in  the  sad  news  reach- 
ing the  colony. 

The  house  built  by  Talon  was  the  most  pre- 
tentious in  the  settlement,  and  is  said  to 
have  been  the  largest  log  house  ever  built 
in  America.  Elizabeth  Laporte  said  her  grand- 
father always  called  it  "the  Queen's  House;" 
but  it  is  generally  known  as  "La  Grande  Maison," 
or  the  great  house,  and  is  so  called  in  all  laborer's 
accounts.  It  was  built  of  hewn  logs  with  a  plain 
sloping  roof,  shingled.  There  were  no  shingles 
on  the  sides.  It  was  about  84  feet  long  and  60 
feet  wide,  two  stories  high,  with  a  spacious  attic. 
There  were  four  stacks  of  chimneys  and  eight 
fireplaces  on  each  floor.  The  windows  were  all 
square,  with  no  hooded  or  dormer  effects,  small 
square  panes  of  glass.  There  were  heavy,  solid 
wooden  shutters  on  the  windows.  On  each  floor 
was  a  hall  the  entire  length,  from  eight  to  twelve 
feet  wide,  with  outside  door  at  each  end,  with 
three  rooms  on  the  side  facing  the  river  and  four 
on  the  other.  The  four  rooms  were  of  equal 
size.  On  the  river  side  the  middle  room  was 
twice  the  size  of  the  others  in  length  and  extend- 
ed into  the  hall  with  double  doors  set  crosswise 
on  each  corner,  opposite  each  of  which  was  a 
broad  flight  of  stairs  to  the  second  story.  In 
each  end  of  this  room  were  fireplaces,  one  much 
larger  than  the  other.  So  large  indeed  that  when 
it  was  used  by  the  Laportes  as  a  kitchen,  oxen 
drew  the  back  logs  right  into  the  room.  The 
mantel  was  about  as  high  as  a  man's  head.  In 
—38— 


■N^ 


\:  r<     -^  >-S 


•1-<1 


4  '^  ,^ ' 

.    -.%*L_.. 


the  center  of  the  side  -was  a  double  door  with  the 
upper  half  set  with  small  panes  of  glass.  Each  side 
of  this  door  were  French  windows,  very  large, 
opening  from  the  floor  nearly  to  the  ceiUng.  Plain 
board  ceiling  was  used  instead  of  plaster  for 
walls,  most  of  the  woodwork  plain  and  unpainted, 
though  the  lower  stairs  had  newell  posts  and  rails 


of  black  walnut.  This  house  was  built  on  lot 
No  418  and  just  north  of  the  house  now  standing, 
built  by  Judge  Laporte  in  1839,  now  owned 
by  the  Hagerman  family.  It  was  torn  down  in 
18-16  for  fear  of  fire.  Traces  of  the  foundation 
are  still  in  evidence.  In  this  great  house  was 
dispensed  the  hospitality  of  the  settlement.  As 
long  as  it  stood,  the  large  room  was  called  the 
French   ladies'   drawing   room  ;    here    doubtless 

—39— 


gathered  all  the  famous  visitors  to  the  colony. 
Here  perhaps  were  breathed  oaths  of  loyalty  to 
Louis  Philippe,  whom  they  hoped  soon  to  see  on 
the  throne  !  What  brilliant  conversation  their 
walls  echoed  !  Alas,  there  has  come  down  to  us 
but  two  amusing  little  stories  of  the  gatherings 
here. 

Though  the  winters  were  long  and  dreary  the 
summer  heat  was  far  more  fierce  than  ever  known 
in  "  Belle  Paris."  The  first  time  the  writer  ever 
heard  of  Asylum,  when  a  little  child  she  was  rid- 
ing by  with  Chas.  F.  Welles  of  Wyalusing. 
After  pointing  out  the  location  and  the  picnic 
rock,  he  added  this  anecdote  told  to  him  by  one 
of  the  old  pioneers.  Entering  the  drawing  room 
(^evidently  unannounced)  he  found  the  great 
dames  seated  around  the  apartment,  all  complain- 
ing bitterly  of  the  intense  heat.  Skirts  were 
daintily  lifted,  while  slave  girls,  seated  on  the 
floor,  industriously  plied  fans  to  cool  their  mis- 
tresses' ankles  ! 

At  another  time  a  great  dinner  was  in  progress 
in  this  room.  Talon's  butler,  always  too  fond 
of  the  wine  which  he  served,  spilled  some  soup 
on  a  guest ;  as  he  had  been  repeatedly  repri- 
manded for  similar  offenses,  his  master's  anger 
knew  no  bounds.  Yet  servants  were  not  plenty 
in  Asylum,  so  Talon  called  for  his  faithful  friend 
and  land  steward,  Laporte,  and  said  "Will  you 
serve  as  butler  ? "  Laporte  protested,  but  Talon 
refused  to  forgive  the  offender,  and  the  feast 
went  on  with  the  wine  merchant  serving  in 
Wallois'  place. 

—40— 


The  only  other  house  at  all  remembered  was 
doubtless  that  of  Boulogne,  hastily  built  for  ac- 
commodation of  first  comers.  It  was  large,  hav- 
ing twelve  equal  sized  rooms  on  each  floor,  with 
a  small  fireplace  in  one  corner  of  each,  arranged 
for  by  three  stacks  of  chimneys,  one  to  each  four 
rooms.  This  house,  like  that  of  Talon,  was  torn 
down. 

There  is  in  existence  an  accurate  description  of 
another  house  in  the  settlement,  by  careless  writ- 
ers often  confounded  with  that  of  Talon. 

AGREEMENT  BETWEEN  SOPHIA  de  SIBERT  AND  GUI 
de  NOAILLES. 

Made  December  23,  1797 — both  of  Asylum. 

Miss  Sibert  had  purchased  Nos.  416  «fc  417  of  the  Asylum 
Company  and  agrees  with  Gui  de  Noailles  to  convey  the  same 
— the  property  is  described  as  containing  the  following  im- 
provements: On  No.  41G  stands  a  log  house  30x18  covered  with 
nailed  shingles,  the  house  is  divided  into  2  lower  rooms  and  2 
in  the  upper  story,  the  lower  ones  are  papered,  on  both  sides  of 
the  house  stand  two  small  buildings  of  the  same  kind,  one  is 
used  for  a  kitchen,  the  other  being  papered  is  commonly  called 
the  dining  room,  both  these  buildings  have  good  fire  places 
and  a  half  story.  Three  rooms  in  the  biggest  house  have  fire 
places,  the  two  side  buildings  and  the  other  are  joined  together 
by  a  piazza,  there  is  a  good  cellar  under  the  dining  room,  the 
yard  is  enclosed  by  a  nailed  pale  fence  and  there  is  a  good 
double  gate,  the  garden  has  a  like  fence,  a  constant  stream  of 
water  runs  through  it,  over  the  spring  a  spring  house  has  been 
erected,  it  is  divided  into  two  rooms  one  of  which  is  floored, 
the  garden  is  decorated  by  a  considerable  number  of  fruit 
trees,  young  Lombardy  poplars  and  weeping  willows,  and  by  a 
lattice  summer  house,  next  to  the  garden  is  a  nursery  of  about 
900  apples  trees,  the  lower  part  of  the  lot  forms  a  piece  of 
meadow  of  about  8  acres  inclosed  by  a  post  and  rail  fence,  on 

—41— 


the  same  lot  no.  416  stands  a  horse  grist  mill,  the  building  is 
40x34,  part  of  the  lower  story  is  contrived  into  a  stable  for  the 
mill  horses  and  a  cow  stable — part  of  the  upper  story  is  used  to 
keep  fodder — the  mill  is  double  geered  and  in  complete  order 
being  furnished  with  a  pair  of  good  stones,  a  good  bolting 
cloth  and  in  one  corner  stands  a  fire  place.  Above  the  mill 
runs  a  never  failing  spring  whicn  waters  a  great  part  of  the 
meadow.  On  No.  417  stands  a  good  log  house  20x18  covered 
with  nailed  shingles  which  is  used  as  a  barn  but  might  be  in- 
habited as  there  are  two  good  grooved  floors  and  a  winding 
staircase.  The  lower  part  is  under  the  best  fence  well  cleared, 
and  part  of  it  was  put  last  fall  in  winter  grain,  &C 
(Signed) 
Witnessed  by 

Peter  Regnier  Bercy  de  Seibert 

Joseph  Delaroue  (or  Delarony) 
Recorded  at  Wilkes-Barre,  Vol.  5,  p  260  of  Deeds  records 

Talon  devoted  much  time  and  attention  to  the 
roads,  and  is  said  to  have  spent  $3,000  on  them  in 
one  year.  His  best  work  of  this  sort  was  the  one 
leading  to  Laddsburg,  still  known  as  the  old 
French  road.  Doubtless  more  labor  was  expended 
on  this  because  it  led  to  the  proposed  hiding  place 
for  the  queen. 

A  wharf  was  built  for  loading  boats,  and  a  ferry 
established,  as  the  Sullivan  trail  (about  the  only 
road)  was  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river.  A 
horse-power  mill  was  constructed,  as  the  nearest 
grist  mill  was  at  Wilkes-Barre.  The  nearest  post 
office  was  at  Wilkes-Barre  also;  therefore  the 
Asylum  settlers  established  a  weekly  express  to 
Philadelphia  by  a  messenger  traveling  on  horse- 
back; this  was  maintained  for  several  years. 

Talon  and  de  Noailles,  finding  themselves  un- 
able   to    provide    funds,     were     released     from 

—42— 


their  contract  by  Messrs.  Morris  and  Nichol- 
son; and  by  the  new  arran^^ements  became 
partners  with  them.  Talon  was  then  made 
agent  of  the  company  at  a  given  salary  of  S3. 000, 
and  the  continued  use  of  the  house  already  occu- 
pied by  him.  This  company  being  also  unable  to 
fulfill  its  engagements,  Talon  resigned  as  agent 
and  sold  out  his  share.  It  seems  pitiful  that  one 
so  ardent  and  interested,  from  ignorance  of  lan- 
guage, and  want  of  practice  in  this  kind  of  busi- 
ness, should  thus  have  been  "deprived  of  the 
most  exquisite  happiness  an  enlightened  French- 
man can  enjoy — of  becoming  the  founder  of  a 
colony  which  would  have  proved  as  honorable  to 
the  name  of  a  Frenchman,  as  useful  to  the  un- 
fortunate sufferers  whom  it  would  have  re- 
ceived." Judge  Stevens,  writing  to  Charles 
Miner  in  1824,  said  of  Talon  : 

"  He  practically  gave  soul  life  and  energy  to  the  settlement 
— with  him  it  rose  and  continued,  and  when  he  withdrew  it 
fell.  That  is  its  decline  began  and  has  continued  to  the  pres- 
ent time.  He  brought  large  sums  of  money  into  the  U.  S.  and 
was  benevolent  and  liberal  in  the  extreme.  Not  exactly  know- 
ing the  worth  of  labor  he  was  frequently  imposed  upon  and 
paid  in  many  instances  for  jobs  five  times  more  than  work  was 
worth,  but  after  all  he  benefitted  many  of  the  citizens  very 
much.  It  is  said  besides  the  money  expended  at  Asylum  he 
lost  in  London  $10,000,  and  in  Brussels  46,000  guineas.  When 
he  heard  of  this  he  called  together  all  his  dependants  and  told 
them  he  must  abandon  the  settlement.  AVhen  he  withdrew, 
they  withered  like  vegetation  without  nourishment." 

It  accords  somewhat  with  a  story  told  by  Bar- 
tholemew  Laporte  to  his  grandchild,  that  the 
founders  of  the  colony  had  left   most  of  their 

—43— 


funds  in  Europe,  and  that  when  they  sent  back 
for  them,  all  had  been  confiscated,  and  so  the  set- 
tlement could  not  be  carried  on  as  first  planned. 
It  may  be  interesting  to  introduce  here  some 
brief  extracts  from  journals  of  John  Keating, 
never  before  published  : 

"  I  sailed  from  Cape  Francis  at  the  end  of  November  1792 
on  board  a  brig  with  M.  de  Blacon.  We  got  up  to  Philadel- 
phia the  eve  of  Christmas  which  was  then  kept  very  strictly. 
We  were  received  at  the  widow  Papley'p  the  day  after  Christ- 
mas. We  soon  met  with  Messrs  Talon,  Vcte.  de  Noailles  and 
other  emigrants.  I  landed  with  less  than  $300  and  knew  no 
one.  A  plan  was  soon  set  on  foot  for  the  formation  of  a  set- 
tlement on  the  North  Branch  of  the  Susquehanna  a  spot  for  a 
town  was  chosen  and  the  name  of  Asylum  given.  Mr.  Robert 
Morris  was  to  give  the  land,  his  sou  to  be  paid  for  it  in  Europe. 
Notwithstanding  the  eagerness  with  which  the  plan  was  adopt- 
ed and  the  considerable  sums  expended  the  settlement  gradual- 
ly decreased — the  great  majority  of  the  settlers  was  not  calcu- 
lated for  it.  Minute  details  of  it  are  to  be  seen  in  the  Duke  de 
Liancourt's  travels." 

(Translated  from  French.) 

"A  short  time  after  my  arrival  in  America  I  made  the  ac- 
quaintance of  M.  Talon,  a  former  civil  lieutenant  in  Paris, 
whom  the  Revolution  had  made  seek  an  asylum  in  the  new 
world ;  foreseeing  that  he  might  there  occupy  himself  in  an 
agreeable  manner,  and  at  the  same  time  useful  to  his  interests. 
He  bought  lands,  or  at  least  made  arrangements  to  do  so,  he 
associated  me  in  his  plans  without  ever  having  known  me,  but 
only  on  that  which  he  had  heard  said  of  me.  Without  enter- 
ing into  details  on  this  subject,  suffice  it  to  say  that  soon  after 
a  company  was  formed  called  Asylum  after  the  name  that  had 
been  given  to  a  locality  situated  on  the  east  branch  of  the 
Susquehanna  in  Pennsylvania.  (I  accompanied  Talon 
thither,  there  we  spent  much  time  together;)  the  business  re- 
quired meanwhile  frequent  trips  to  Philadelphia  where  I  made 
several   good   acquaintances.     The   affairs  of  the  Asylum  Co. 

—44— 


not  promising  great  profits,  and  the  funtls  of  Talon  disappear- 
ing fast,  he  resolved  to  go  over  to  Euro})e  to  dispose  of  some 
lauds  of  -which  the  sale  had  been  entrusted  to  him,  and  also  to 
straighten  out  his  affairs.  Having  succeeded  in  Holland  in 
effecting  a  purchase  of  the  lands,  he  came  back  in  July,  1792, 
■with  power  to  conclude  it,  and  terminated  this  affair  at  the 
close  of  the  year,  and  returned  again  to  Europe  in  the  month 
of  February  following,  i.  e.  Feb  1797." 

This  last  paragraph  would  indicate  that  Talon 
had  to  do  with  the  syndicate  who  were  back  of 
the  so-called  "  Holland  Land  Co." 

Among  John  Keating's  papers  is  an  inter- 
esting contract  drawn  January  5,  1797,  where- 
by Talon  and  one  Richard  Gernon  arrange 
to  purchase  287,482  acres  in  Lycoming 
Co.  of  William  Bingham  ;  evidently  a  part 
of  the  famous  Bingham  lands.  The  paper  in- 
dicates Talon's  intended  departure,  John  Keat- 
ing being  given  power  of  attorney  during  his 
absence.  This  time  he  did  not  return,  and  soon 
became  again  interested  in  political  intrigue.  In 
1804  he  was  banished  for  being  implicated  in  a 
plot  against  Napoleon,  and  was  actually  impris- 
oned for  three  years.  This  proving  too  great  a 
mental  strain  he  became  insane  and  died  in 
1811. 

A  picture  of  life  at  Asylum  is  well  drawn  by 
the  Duke  de  la  Rochefoucauld-Tiiancourt,  a  French 
nobleman  who  traveled  up  the  Susquehanna  in 
1795,  and  published  a  journal  of  his  travels,  which 
may  be  found  in  the  library  of  the  Pennsylvania 
Historical  Society,  and  doubtless  in  some  of  our 
large  public  libraries. 

After  mentioning  its   situation,   and  the   fact 

—45— 


that  Taloii  and  de  Noailles  soon  found  they  were 
richer  in  hopes  than  in  cash,  and  that  they  suffer- 
ed from  ignorance  of  the  language,  and  want  of 
practice  in  business  of  this  nature,  he  says: 

This  is  a  brief  sketch  of  the  history  of  Asylum.  There 
cannot  remain  a  doubt  but  that  this  establishment,  the  plan  of 
which  is  certainly  the  work  of  much  deliberation,  would  have 
proved  more  successful  had  it  been  formed  by  degrees  and  with 
a  sufficient  supply  of  ready  money.  For  notwithstanding  the 
errors  committed  in  the  execution  of  the  plan  and  the  adverse 
incidents  it  has  met  with,  Asylum  has  already  attained  an  un- 
common degree  of  perfection,  considering  its  infant  state. 
Thirty  houses  built  in  this  town  are  inhabited  by  families  from 
St.  Domingo  and  from  France,  by  French  artisans,  and  even  by 
Americans.  Some  inns  and  two  shops  have  been  established, 
the  business  of  which  is  considerable.  Several  town  shares 
have  been  put  into  very  good  condition;  and  the  fields  and 
gardens  begin  to  be  productive.  A  considerable  quantity  of 
ground  has  been  cleared  on  the  creek  Loyalsock,  where  the 
company  has  allotted  25,000  acres  of  land,  in  part  of  a  hundred 
thousiiud  acres,  which  the  inhabitants  of  Asylum  have  pur- 
chased by  subscription.  Similar  agricultural  operations,  which 
take  place  in  almost  every  town  share,  are  intended  to  enliven 
at  once  all  the  diiierent  parts  of  this  large  tract  of  land.  The 
town  shares  consist  each  of  400  acres  from  10  to  20  of  which 
are  cleared.  The  owner  can  therefore  either  settle  there  him- 
self at  the  end  of  the  year,  or  entrust  it  to  a  farmer.  The 
clearing  of  the  town  shares  is,  at  present,  effected  by  subscrip- 
tion on  this  principle :  that  for  every  acre  that  belongs  to  a 
subscriber  who  has  cleared  10  acres,  five  of  which  only  are  en- 
closed with  fences,  $9  are  paid.  M.  de  MontuUe,  one  of  the 
inhabitants  of  Asylum,  directs  this  clearing  of  the  ground ;  the 
plan  of  which  he  conceived  for  the  welfare  of  the  colony.  The 
sentiments  of  the  colonists  are  good.  Every  one  follows  his 
business,  the  cultivator  as  well  as  the  inn-keeper  and  trades- 
man, with  as  much  zeal  and  exertion  as  if  he  had  been  brought 
up  to  it.     The  soil    is  tolerably   good,  the   climate  healthful. 

—46— 


Almost  all  the  ingredieHts  of  a  thriving  colony  concur  in  Asy- 
lum, and  afford  room  to  hope  that  these  great  natural  advan- 
tages will  in  time  be  improved  for  the  benefit  and  prosperity  of 
the  colonists.  A  new  trading  company  has  superceded  the 
former;  at  least,  the  firm  and  management  of  the  company's 
concerns  have  been  altered.  Mr.  Robert  Morris  has  entirely 
left  it,  and  Mr.  Nicholson  being  now  the  only  proprietor,  has 
formed  a  bank  of  his  million  of  acres,  divided  into  5,000  shares 
containing  each  200  acres,  the  price  of  which  at  $3.50  per  acre 
is  $500.  They  bear  six  per  cent  interest,  which  increases  in 
proportion  to  the  state  of  the  land;  and  at  the  expiration  of  15 
years,  the  period  of  which  the  company  is  to  be  dissolved,  all 
the  benefits  and  advantages  accruing  to  the  bank,  are  to  be  di- 
vided among  the  holders  of  the  shares.  An  office  has  been  es- 
tablished by  the  latter,  for  the  direction  and  management  of  the 
concerns  of  the  bank. 

This  new  company,  taught  by  the  errors  of  the  former,  will, 
no  doubt,  make  it  their  principal  business  to  promote  the  pros- 
perity of  Asylum,  which  alone,  can,  in  any  considerable  man- 
ner, increase  the  value  of  the  land.  Yet  some  sacrifices  will 
also  be  required  for  that  purpose.  It  will  be  necessary  to  con- 
struct new  roads  and  repair  the  old  ones.  Encouragement  must 
also  be  given  to  the  families,  which  already  inhabit  Asylum ; 
and  advantageous  offers  must  be  held  out  to  such  as  may  be 
disposed  to  settle  here.  If  these  things  be  done,  Asylum  will 
soon  be  peopled.  Motives  arising  from  French  manners  and 
opinions  have  hitherto  prevented  eveu  French  families  from 
settling  here.  These  are  now  in  great  measure  removed,  and 
if  the  company  shall  proceed  with  judgment  and  prudence,  as 
is  to  be  hoped  they  will,  there  can  hardly  remain  a  doubt  but 
that  Asylum  will  speedily  become  a  place  of  importance.  Its 
situation  on  the  Sus(juehanna,  200  miles  from  its  source,  fits  it 
in  a  peculiar  manner  for  an  emporium  of  the  inland  trade. 
French  activity,  supported  with  money,  will  certainly  accel- 
erate its  growth;  and  this  will  doubtless  in  time  convince  the 
world  that  the  enterprise  and  assiduity  of  Frenchmen  are  equal- 
ly conspicuous  in  prosperous  and  adverse  circumstances. 

The  following  families  have  cither   already  settled,  or  intend 

—47— 


to  settle  at  Asylum,  viz:  1.  M.  de  Blacons,  deputy  for  Dau- 
phine,  in  the  constituent  assembly.  Since  his  quitting  France, 
he  has  married  Madamoiselle  de  Maulde,  late  canoness  to  the 
chapter  of  Bonbourg.  They  keep  a  haberdasher's  shop.  Their 
partner  is  M.  Colin,  formerly  Abb6  de  Sevigng,  archdeacon  of 
Tours,  and  conseiller  au  grand  conseil.  3.  M.  de  Montule, 
late  captain  of  a  troop  of  horse,  married  to  a  lady  of  St.  Do- 
mingo, who  resides  at  present  at  Pottsgrove.  3.  Madame  de 
Sybert,  cousin  to  M.  de  Montule  and  relict  of  a  rich  planter  of 
St.  Domingo.  4.  M.  Becdelli^rre,  formerly  a  canon,  now  a 
shop-keeper;  his  partners  are  the  two  Messrs.  de  la  Roue,  one 
of  whom  was  formerly  a  petit  gens-d'armes  and  the  other  a 
captain  of  infantry.  The  latter  has  married  a  sister  of  Mad- 
ame Sybert.  5.  Mademoiselle  de  Bercy,  who  intends  to  estab- 
lish an  inn  on  the  road  from  Asylum  to  Loyalsock,  eight  miles 
from  the  former  place,  whither  she  is  on  the  point  of  removing 
with  her  husband,  6.  M.  Beaulieu,  formerly  a  captain  of  in- 
fantry in  the  French  service,  who  served  in  America  during  the 
late  war  in  the  legion  of  Potosky.  He  has  remained  ever  since 
in  this  country,  has  married  an  English  Udy  and  now  keeps  an 
inn.  7.  M.  Buzard,  a  planter  of  St.  Domingo  and  physician 
in  that  colony,  who  has  settled  in  Asylum  with  his  wife, 
daughter  and  son,  and  some  negroes,  the  remains  of  his  for- 
tune. 8.  M.  de  Noailles,  a  planter  of  St.  Domingo.  9.  M. 
Dandelot  of  Franchecomte,  late  an  officer  of  infantry,  who  left 
France  on  account  of  the  Revoluticm  and  arrived  here  desti- 
tute of  property,  but  was  kindly  received  by  Mr.  Talon,  and  is 
now  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  with  spirit  and  success. 
10.  M.  du  Petit  Thouars,  an  officer  of  the  navy,  who,  encour- 
aged by  the  constituent  assembly  and  assisted  by  a  subscrip- 
tion, embarked  in  an  expedition  in  quest  of  M.  de  la  Peroufe. 
He  was  detained  on  the  coast  of  Brazil  by  the  governor  of  the 
colony,  Fernando  de  Noriguez,  and  sent  with  his  crew  to  Por- 
tugal, where  he  was  very  ill-treated  by  the  Portuguese  govern- 
ment, stripped  of  all  his  property,  and  only  escaped  farther 
persecution  by  fleeing  to  America,  where  he  lives  free  and  hap- 
py, without  pi'operty,  yet  without  want.  He  is  employed  in 
clearing  about  200  or  300  acres   of  land,  which  have  been  pre- 

—48— 


sented  to  him.  His  sociable,  mild,  yet  truly  original  temper 
and  character,  are   set   off  by   a   noble   simplicity   of  manner. 

11.  M.  Norcs,  a  young  gentleman,  who  embarked  with  M.  Du 
Petit  Thouars,  and  escaped  with  him  to  this  country.  He  for- 
merly wore  the  petit  collet  (the  petit  collet  or  little  band  was 
formerly  a  distinguishing  mark  of  the  secular  clergy  in 
France),  was  a  pupil  of  M.  de  la  Chapelle,  possessor  of  a  small 
priory  and  now  earns  his  subsistence  by  cultivating  the  ground. 

12.  John  Keating,  an  Irishman,  and  late  captain  of  the  regi- 
ment of  AVelsh.  At  the  beginning  of  the  Revolution  he  was 
in  St.  Domingo,  where  he  possessed  the  confidence  of  all  the 
parties,  but  refused  the  most  tempting  offers  of  the  commis- 
sioners of  the  assembly,  though  his  sentiments  were  truly  Dem- 
ocratic. It  was  his  choice  and  determination  to  retire  to  Amer- 
ica without  a  shilling  in  his  pocket,  rather  than  to  acquire 
power  and  opulence  in  St.  Domingo  by  violating  his  first  oath. 
He  is  a  man  of  uncommon  merit,  distinguished  abilities,  extra- 
ordinary virtue  and  invincible  disinterestedness.  His  deport- 
ment is  grave,  yet  affable.  His  advice  and  prudence  have 
proved  extremely  serviceable  to  M.  Talon  in  every  department 
of  his  business.  It  was  he  who  negotiated  the  arrangements 
between  Messrs.  Morris  and  Nicholson;  and  it  may  be  justly 
said  that  the  confidence,  which  his  uncommon  abilities  and 
virture  inspire,  enables  him  to  adjust  matters  of  dispute  with 
much  greater  facility  than  most  other  persons.  ]  3.  M.  R6naud 
and  family.  He  is  a  rich  merchant  of  St.  Domingo,  who  has 
just  arrived  with  very  considerable  property,  preserved  from 
the  wreck  of  an  immense  fortune.  14.  M.  Carles,  a  priest  and 
canon  of  Guernsey,  who  retired  to  America  with  a  small  for- 
tune and  who  has  now  settled  at  Asylum;  he  is  an  industrious 
and  much  respected  farmer.  15.  M.  Brevost  a  citizen  of 
Paris,  celebrated  for  his  benevolence ;  he  was  a  member  of  all 
benevolent  societies,  treasurer  of  the  philanthropic  society,  and 
retired  to  America  with  some  property,  a  considerable  part  of 
which  he  expended  on  a  settlement,  which  he  attempted  to  es- 
tablish on  the  banks  of  the  Chenango,  but  which  did  not 
eventually  succeed.  He  now  cultivates  his  lot  of  ground  on 
the  Loyalsock,  as  if  his  whole    life   had    been  devoted  to  the 

—49— 


same  pursuit;  and  the  cheerful  serenity  of  a  gentle,  candid, 
philosophical  mind  still  attends  him  in  his  laborious  retreat. 
His  wife  and  sister-in-law,  who  have  also  settled  here,  share  in 
his  tranquility  and  his  happiness.  16.  Madame  d'A.utremont, 
with  her  three  children.  She  is  the  widow  of  a  steward  (?)  of 
Paris.  Two  of  her  sons  are  grown  up ;  one  Avas  a  notary  and 
the  other  a  watchmaker;  but  they  have  now  become  hewers  of 
wood  and  tillers  of  the  ground,  and  secure  by  their  zeal,  spirit, 
politeness  and  unblemished  character  the  sympathy  and  respect 
of  every  feeling  mind. 

Some  families  of  artisans  are  also  established  at  Asylum;  and 
such  as  conduct  themselves  properly  earn  great  wages.  This 
cannot  be  said  of  the  greatest  part  of  them.  They  are,  in 
general,  very  indifferent  workmen  and  much  addicted  to  drunk- 
enness. In  time,  they  will  be  superseded  by  more  valuable 
men;  and  American  families  of  a  better  description  will  settle 
here;  for  those  who  reside  at  present  at  Asylum  are  scarcely 
worth  keeping. 

One  of  the  greatest  impediments  to  the  prosperity  of  this 
settlement  will  probably  arise  from  the  prejudices  of  some 
Frenchmen  against  the  Americans,  unless  self-interest  and  rea- 
son should  prove  the  means  of  removing  them.  These  are  fre- 
quently manifested  with  that  inconsiderate  levity,  with  which 
Frenchmen  in  general  decide  on  things  and  persons  of  the 
greatest  moment;  some  of  them  vauntingly  declare  that  they 
will  never  learn  the  language  of  the  country,  or  enter  into  con- 
versation with  an  American.  Whether  particular  facts  and 
occurrences  can  justify  this  prejudice  in  regard  to  individuals, 
I  will  not  affirm;  but  certain  it  is,  that  they  can  never  justify 
it  in  the  latitude  of  a  general  opinion.  A  conduct  founded  on 
such  prejudices  would  prove  extremely  hurtful  to  the  interests 
of  the  colony ;  the  progress  of  which  has  been  already  retard- 
ed by  so  many  unavoidable  obstacles,  that  there  certainly  is  no 
occasion  to  create  new  ones  by  purposely  exciting  the  animosi- 
ty of  a  people,  among  whom  the  colony  has  been  formed,  and 
who,  in  the  judgment  of  every  impartial  man,  must  be  con- 
sidered as  in  a  state  of  less  degeneracy  than  many  European 
nations. 

—50— 


The  real  farmers  who  reside  at  Asylum  live,  upon  the  whole, 
on  very  good  terras  with  each  other;  being  duly  sensible  that 
harmony  is  requisite,  to  render  their  situation  comfortable  and 
happy.  They  possess  no  considerable  property,  and  their  way 
of  life  is  simple.  M.  Talon  lives  in  a  manner  somewhat  more 
splendid,  as  he  is  obliged  to  maintain  a  number  of  persons  to 
whom  his  assistance  was  indispensable. 

It  is  to  be  wished  and  hoped  that  the  whole  settlement  may 
prove  ultimately  successful.  A  more  convenient  spot  might, 
doubtless,  have  been  chosen.  But  not  to  mention  that,  all  ex 
post  facto  judgments  are  unfair,  the  present  situation  of  the 
colony  appearing  so  advantageous  as  to  warrant  the  most  san- 
guine hopes  of  success.  Industrious  families,  however,  without 
whom  no  settlement  can  prosper,  must  be  invited  to  it;  for  it 
must  be  considered  that,  however  polished  its  present  inhabit- 
ants may  be,  the  gentlemen  cannot  so  easily  dispense  with  the 
assistance  of  the  artisan  and  the  husbandman,  as  these  can  with 
that  of  the  gentleman. 

A  speedy  adjustment  of  the  present  differences  between  Con- 
necticut and  Pennsylvania,  with  respect  to  the  estates  contigu- 
ous to  the  lands  of  Asylum,  would  also  prove  a  desirable  and 
fortunate  circumstance  for  this  colony.  None  but  persons  of 
indifferent  character  are  willing  to  settle  on  ground,  the  title  to 
which  remains  a  matter  of  dispute.  Even  the  small  number  of 
colonists  we  found  between  Wilkes-Barre  and  Tioga  are  by  no 
means  praiseworthy  in  their  morals ;  and  they  are  poor,  lazy, 
drunken,  quarrelsome,  and  extremely  negligent  in  the  culture 
of  their  lands.  The  valuable  emigrants  from  New  England 
from  the  eastern  branch  of  the  Susquehanna,  who  should  be 
encouraged  to  settle  here,  will  certainly  not  make  their  appear- 
ance, till  they  can  be  sure  of  cultivating  their  lands  without 
opposition,  and  of  retaining  the  undisturbed  possession  of  their 
estates.  It  is  therefore  of  the  greatest  importance  to  the  com- 
pany of  Asylum,  that  this  weighty  business  should  be  speedily 
and  finally  adjusted.  When  that  is  accomplished,  the  company 
will  doubtless  embrace  the  earliest  opportunity  of  advertising 
the  whole  million  acres;  they  will  endeavor  to  combine  sepa- 
rate estates   with  each   other,   by    purchasing  the  intervening 

—51— 


lands,  they  will  make  public  their  right  of  property,  pursue  a 
well  concerted  general  plan,  execute  it  with  the  requisite  care 
and  dispatch,  and  make  the  necessary  sacrifices.  They  will  per- 
ceive how  advantageous  and  important  it  is  to  place  Asylum, 
as  it  were,  in  full  activity  by  constructing  the  roads  already 
projected  and  commenced,  by  establishing  a  school,  by  inviting 
industrious  settlers  and  by  endeavoring  to  meliorate  the  Ijreeds 
of  horses  and  cattle ;  in  short,  by  encouraging  useful  establish- 
ments of  every  kind.  A  few  hundreds  of  dollars  laid  out  here 
properly  would  produce  the  most  considerable  and  lasting  im- 
provements. In  such  cases,  however,  it  is  requisite  to  calculate 
well,  that  we  may  expend  judiciously.  By  prudent  and  liberal 
measures,  the  prosperity  of  this  French  colony,  and  conse- 
quently of  the  company,  would  be  essentially  insured  and  pro- 
moted. And  when  this  settlement  shall  have  once  ripened  into 
a  flourishing  state,  it  will  serve  to  connect  the  country,  which 
is  already  cultivated  along  the  banks  of  the  river,  above  and 
below  Asylum,  and  thus  prove  a  source  of  animation  to  this 
interesting  part  of  Pennsylvania.  But,  unless  active  and  judi- 
cious measures  be  pursued.  Asylum  will  inevitably  suffer  from 
the  partial  inconveniences  which  attend  its  situation,  and  from 
the  errors  committed  in  the  first  formation  of  this  colony ;  and 
instead  of  attaining  to  the  wished  for  prosperity,  it  must,  on 
the  contrary,  find  its  decline,  if  not  downfall,  in  the  very  na- 
ture of  its  establishment. 

Everything  in  this  settlement,  at  present,  appears  in  a  preca- 
rious condition.  The  price  of  provision  depends  on  a  variety 
of  fluctuating  circumstances.  By  the  activity  and  prudence  of 
certain  individuals,  the  town  is  abundantly  supplied  with  grain 
and  meat,  and  this  honest  economy  keeps  provision  at  a  moder- 
ate price.  But  men  of  a  less  hbei-al  way  of  thinking  have  it  also 
in  their  power  to  occasion  scarcity  of  the  first  necessaries  of 
life,  and  raise  their  price  to  a  rate  beyond  all  proportion  to  that 
of  other  commodities.  The  information,  which  I  have  been 
able  to  collect  relative  to  the  state  of  agriculture,  however  accu- 
rate at  the  present  moment,  can  hardly  be  thought  suificient  for 
the  direction  of  a  planter,  who  should  incline  to  settle  here;  I 
shall,  however,  lay  it  before  my  readers  such  as  it  is. 

—52— 


The  land  behind  the  town  is  tolerably  good ;  but  that  on  the 
banks  of  the  river  consists  of  excellent  meadows,  laid  out  by 
families  who  settled  here  before  the  present  colonists,  produc- 
ing very  good  hay,  pretty  considerable  in  quantity,  and  they 
are  capable  of  still  farther  improvements.  The  soil  of  Loyal- 
sock  is,  in  general,  excellent.  Many  trees  grow  there,  which 
evinces  its  goodness,  such  as  the  white  Virginian  walnut  tree, 
white  oak,  plane  tree,  sugar  maple  and  hemlock  fir.  It  is  a 
circumstance  worthy  of  notice,  that  half  way  between  Loyal- 
sock  and  Asylum,  common  oak,  which  in  the  fields  about  the 
latter  place  is  found  in  abundance,  becomes  at  once  so  scarce 
that  not  200  oak  trees  grow  in  the  whole  district  of  Loyalsock, 
which  contains  2,500  acres.  The  price  of  the  company's  land 
is  at  present  $2.50  per  acre;  very  little,  however,  is  sold.  That 
of  the  town  of  Asylum  fetches  little  more ;  although  there  is 
little  doubt  that  the  price  will  raise  gradually  to  110.  The 
land  contiguous  to  Asylum,  which  does  not  belong  to  the  com- 
pany, being  at  present  in  an  unsettled  state  with  respect  to  right 
of  praperty,  this  circumstance  renders  it  a  very  undesirable 
possession  for  such  settlers  as  do  not  wish  to  expose  themselves 
to  the  danger  of  subsequent  litigations,  and  consequently  to 
being  dispossessed  of  their  purchases.  Hitherto  the  grain  ap- 
pears to  have  suffered  but  little  from  the  Hessian  fly  and  from 
blights.  The  winter  lasts  here  from  four  and  a  half  to  five 
months.  Agriculture,  however,  has  hitherto  advanced  so  slow- 
ly that  the  cattle  suffer  much  during  that  season  for  want  of 
fodder.  They  are  for  the  most  part  fed  with  turnips,  gourds 
and  straw  of  Indian  corn.  Both  oxen  and  cows  are  of  a  very 
indifferent  sort,  as  little  attention  hus  been  paid  to  the  breed  of 
cattle  brought  hither  by  the  settlers.  Both  seed  time  and  har- 
vest take  place  here  about  a  fortnight  later  than  in  the  vicinity 
of  Philadelphia.  The  land  yields  about  15  or  20  bushels  of 
wheat,  60  bushels  of  Indian  corn  and  three  tons  of  hay  per  acre. 
The  soil  seems  naturally  better  adapted  for  meadows  than  for 
corn  land;  but  from  the  little  trouble  attending  the  driving  of 
the  cattle  into  the  forest,  the  produce  in  corn  is  rather  appar- 
ently great  than  so  in  fact.  In  ploughing  they  generally  employ 
oxen,  which,  it  should  be  observed,  are  not  subject  to  any  par- 

—53— 


ticulur  disease.  They  are  at  times  driven  to  Philadelphia;  and 
the  country  people  frequently  act  here  with  so  little  judgment, 
as  even  to  send  them  200  miles  off,  vrhen  they  might  ol)tain 
much  better  prices,  and  even  ready  money,  in  the  neighbor- 
hood. The  bullocks,  which  are  consumed  in  Asylum,  are  gen- 
erally brought  from  the  back  settlements,  but  it  is  frequently 
found  necessary  to  send  thither  for  them.  They  are  generally 
plentiful;  the  uncommon  duration  of  the  last  winter,  however, 
proved  so  destructive  to  the  cattle  that  few  are  now  to  be  seen, 
and  a  great  scarcity  of  beef  prevails  at  Asylum  as  well  as  in 
various  other  parts  of  America. 

The  grain,  which  is  not  consumed  in  Asylum,  finds  a  market 
in  Wilkes-Barre  and  is  transported  thither  on  the  river.  In  the 
same  manner  all  kinds  of  merchandise  are  conveyed  from  Phil- 
adelphia to  Asylum.  They  are  carried  in  wagons  as  far  as  Har- 
risburg,  and  thence  sent  in  barges  up  the  river.  The  freight 
amounts,  in  the  whole,  to  $3  per  cwt.  The  salt  comes  from  the 
salt  houses  at  Genesee,  on  the  lake  of  Ontario.  Flax  is  pro- 
duced in  the  country  about  Asylum ;  and  the  soil  is  very  fit  for 
producing  crops  of  that  commodity.  Maple  sugar  is  made  here 
in  great  abundance.  Each  tree  is  computed  to  yield  upon  an 
average  from  two  pounds  and  a  half  to  three  a  year.  Molasses 
and  vinegar  are  also  prepared  here.  I  have  seen  Messrs.  De 
Vilaine  and  Dandelot  make  sugar  in  this  place,  which  much 
surpasses  any  of  the  same  kind  that  has  hitherto  come  under 
my  observation.  A  considerable  quantity  of  tar  is  also  made, 
and  sold  for  $4  per  barrel  containing  32  gallons.  Day  laborers 
are  paid  at  the  rate  of  five  shillings  a  day.  M.  de  Montule  em- 
ploys workmen  from  the  eastern  branch  of  the  river  to  clear  his 
land;  to  these  he  pays  half  a  dollar  a  day,  besides  allowing 
them  their  victuals;  the  overseer  receives  a  dollar  and  a  third 
per  day;  these  people  turn  out  to  be  very  good  workmen. 
They  are  easily  procured,  when  employment  is  ensured  to  them 
for  any  length  of  time ;  but  otherwise  it  is  very  difficult  to  ob- 
tain them.  The  manufacture  of  potashes  has  also  been  com- 
menced at  Asylum,  and  it  is  in  contemplation  to  attempt  the 
brewing  of  malt  liquor.  A  corn  mill  and  a  saw  mill  are  build- 
ing on  the  Loyalsock. 

—54— 


The  foregoing  is  a  brief  sketch  of  the  present  state  of  this  in- 
teresting settlement,  which  even  a  twelve  months  hence  will  no 
longer  retain  its  present  features.  To  judge  from  the  actual 
condition  of  the  probable  progress  and  duration  of  this  infant 
colony,  it  must  either  rise  or  fall  rapidly.  It  is  to  be  hoped 
that  the  want  of  familiarity  to  the  original  in  my  description, 
which  may  be  observable  next  year  in  the  colony,  will  arise 
from  its  rapid  progress  toward  maturity,  and  this  hope  is 
grounded  on  probable  appearances. 

Tuesday,  the  2d  of  June.  On  our  arrival  at  Asylum,  it  was 
not  our  intention  to  have  stopped  more  than  four  days  in  that 
place.  But  the  pleasure  of  meeting  with  M.  and  Madame  de 
Blacons,  a  desire  to  obtain  a  thorough  knowledge  of  the  pres- 
ent state  of  the  colony,  as  well  as  of  its  prospects  of  future  im- 
provement; and  the  cordial  reception  we  experienced  from  all 
its  inhabitants  induced  us  to  add  four  days  to  our  stay,  and  in 
the  whole  we  stopped  twelve  days.  On  Tuesday,  the  2d  of 
June,  we  at  length  took  our  departure.  Messrs.  de  Blacons  and 
DuPetit  Thouars  joined  our  caravan ;  the  latter,  who  travelled 
on  foot,  had  set  out  the  preceding  evening. 

The  Duke  says  the  little  shops  flourished 
"  rather  to  the  detriment  of  those  at  the  nearest 
settlement,  Tioga  Point."  Religious  services 
were  conducted  in  the  log  chapel  by  M.  Fromen- 
tin  and  M.  Carles.  Some  marriages  occurred 
there.  Some  one  of  the  emigres  brought  with 
them  a  beautiful  illuminated  missal  which  was 
used  in  the  services.  This  missal  was  given  to 
Laporte  ;  his  son  Judge  Laporte  gave  it  to  Father 
Toner,  a  priest  ministering  in  Towanda  fifty 
3''ears  ago.  Recently  when  inquiry  was  made  it 
was  learned  that  Father  Toner  carried  it  to  Rome 
and  presented  it  to  the  Vatican  museum. 

A  grist  mill  run  by  horse  power  was  built  (the 
first  in  Bradford  County).     It  is  said  that  one  of 

—55— 


the  ladies  gave  her  silk  dress  for  bolting  cloth. 

In  1794-  Louis  Lefevre  was  licensed  to  keep  an 
inn  in  Asylum  ;  in  1Y95  Heraud,  the  partner  of 
Laporte,  obtained  a  similar  license  and  in  1797 
Regnier  and  Becdelliere.  The  latter  also  kept 
store  near  where  Miller's  house  now  is,  and 
among  the  earliest  recollections  of  Abraham 
Vanderpool  (born  in  1796)  was  Mr.  B's  kindness 
to  him  in  giving  him  raisins  and  candy.  He  says 
"I  thought  he  was  a  very  fine  old  man."  At  a 
later  period  John  B.  Rosett  and  Jos.  Doyle  were 
engaged  in  mercantile  business,  removing  to 
Wilkes-Barre  in  1804. 

Louis  Lefevre's  inn  seems  to  have  been  on  east 
side  of  river  opposite  Frenchtown,  or  else  he  had 
two.  Aubrey  was  a  blacksmith,  probably  a 
Frenchman.  There  are  no  records  by  which  one 
can  determine  just  how  many  French  people 
lived  at  Asylum  at  its  height,  and  there  is  no  list 
of  names  of  all  settlers.  There  were  a  few  births 
of  which  writer  has  no  record  except  of  John  La- 
porte ;  there  were  also  a  few  deaths  and  one  sui- 
cide, as  related  by  Yankee  settlers.  It  is  not  known 
that  there  are  in  existence  any  letters  or  papers 
bearing  on  Asylum,  except  those  recorded  in  this 
volume,  at  the  best  all  too  meagre.  Those  who 
returned  to  France,  or  some  of  them,  gave  ac- 
counts of  the  Susquehanna  Valley  which  later 
attracted  thither  various  French  families  whose 
descendants  still  live  in  Bradford  County  ;  notably 
Piollet  and  Delpeuch. 

One  of  the  most  charming  and  picturesque 
characters  at  the  time  of  the  Duke's  visit,  was 
—56— 


'^^^^^oc^ 


[This  authentic  portrait  was  obtained  from  the  Bibliotheque 
Nationale,  Rue  de  Richelieu,  Paris,  April,  1903. 


Aristide  Aubert  dupetit  Thouars,  familiarly  called 

O^        V       <Cj  "-^^        '■~^  born    in    1760, 

was  educated  in  the  military  school  at  Paris,  and  a 
captain  in  the  navy  during  the  war  with  England. 
Always  enthusiastic  over  "Robinson  Crusoe," 
and  becoming  interested  in  the  fate  of  the  miss- 
ing navigator,  la  Perouse,  he  fitted  out  an  ex- 
pedition himself  to  find  and  rescue  the  lost  ad- 
venturers, he  and  his  brother  selling  their  patri- 
mony for  the  purpose.  It  was  an  unfortunate 
undertaking  :  many  of  his  crew  were  carried  off 
by  sickness  ;  his  ship  was  seized  by  the  Portu- 
guese, and  he  was  imprisoned  for  some  time.  On 
his  release  he  at  once  came  to  America,  and  was 
induced  by  M.  de  Noailles  to  go  to  Asylum. 

Like  most  of  the  refugees,  he  had  arrived  in 
this  country  penniless,  but  Talon  and  de  Noailles, 
doubtless  attracted  by  his  youth,  brilliancy  and 
Spartan  disposition,  contrived  to  aid  the  young 
man  by  giving  him  an  opportunity  to  be  useful, 
thus  avoiding  the  appearance  of  charity.  This  is 
very  evident  from  the  many  laborers  accounts 
signed  by  him,  showing  that  he  shared  with 
Boulogne  the  supervision  of  erecting  buildings, 
fences,  &c.,  and  seems  also  to  have  had  charge  of 
potash  making. 

But,  though  proud  to  a  fault,  his  whole 
life  is  a  record  of  quick  sympathy,  unselfish 
ness  and  generosity.  He  was  a  welcome 
guest  among  his  fellow  refugees,  but,  he  soon 
chose  solitude  and  hardship  in  place  of  the  gaiety 

—57— 


and  idleness  of  the  little  colony.  Though  he  had 
but  one  arm,  he  attempted  to  make  a  clearing  in 
the  heart  of  the  forest,  and  came  into  the  town 
only  when  in  need  of  supplies  ;  he  never  forgot 
that  he  was  a  soldier,  and  simplicity  was  a  card- 
dinal  virtue  with  him.  So  he  lived  alone  in  the 
forest  (on  the  spot  that  now  bears  his  name 
Americanized,  Dushore).  How  far  removed  in 
appearance  as  in  reality  from  the  beautiful  old 
chateau  de  Bonmois  near  Saumur  where  he  was 
born  and  where  the  family  still  live. 

When  the  Duke  left  Asylum  en  route  for  Ni- 
agara, he  invited  dupetit  Thouars  to  accompany 
him  ;  he  accepted,  but,  too  poor  to  own  a  horse  and 
too  proud  to  borrow  one,  he  walked  the  whole 
distance,  claiming  he  preferred  walking  to  riding. 

Many  delightful  anecdotes  of  "the  Admiral" 
have  been  handed  down  by  word  of  mouth  to  the 
present  generation.  Perhaps  there  is  none  more 
amusing  or  more  characteristic  of  the  man  than 
the  following:  Coming  through  the  woods  one 
day  from  his  clearing,  he  met  a  man  nearly 
naked,  who  told  him  he  had  just  escaped  from 
captivity  among  the  Indians.  The  generous 
young  Frenchman  at  once  doffed  his  only  shirt 
and  insisted  on  its  acceptance  by  his  poorer 
neighbor ;  and  buttoning  up  his  coat  to  conceal 
his  own  destitution,  proceeded  to  the  mansion  at 
Asylum.  That  night  at  dinner,  someone  of 
his  friends  rallied  him  upon  his  punctiliousness 
in  keeping  himself  buttoned  so  closely,  in  spite 
of  the  summer  heat.  The  Captain  parried  the 
thrust  by  quick  repartee,  and  it  was  not  until  the 

—58— 


^wu^'Is^^th-'^^M'&va:^^  o 


[This  portrait,  obtained  in  Paris  in  1897,  may  be  of  Aubert 
also,  but  it  is  not  authenticated.] 


accidental  arrival  of  the  beneficiary  of  his  bounty 
(said  to  have  been  a  Canadian  refugee),  that  the 
truth  of  the  matter  was  discovered  and  he  was 
supplied  with  the  needed  article.  So  much  was 
his  pride  respected,  that  whenever  his  wardrobe 
needed  replenishing  his  friends  replaced  the  worn 
article  secretly  to  spare  his  mortification. 

This  noble  man  returned  to  France  under  the 
decree  of  Napoleon  and  applied  once  more  for  a 
place  in  the  navy,  "  You  have  but  one  hand,"  said 
the  minister,  "you  ought  to  go  on  the  retired  list 
and  not  the  active."  Dupetit  Thouars  replied, 
"True  sir,  I  have  given  one  hand  to  France,  but 
here  is  another  for  her  service."  Soon  after,  in 
the  expedition  to  Egypt,  he  was  placed  in  com- 
mand of  "La  Tonnant,"  an  old  vessel. 

When  the  enemy  was  met,  he  declared  the  sit- 
uation unfavorable,  but  said  that  he  should  nail 
his  colors  to  the  mast.  He  fought  courageously 
and  it  is  related  that  when  his  only  arm  and  one  leg 
were  shot  away  by  cannon  balls,  he  asked  to  be 
be  thrown  overboard,  since  he  could  no  longer 
serve  his  country  and  did  not  wish  to  remain  on 
deck  an  encumbrance  to  discourage  the  crew. 
He  died  at  the  close  of  the  engagement.  Brave 
Admiral,  the  lovely  valley  of  the  Susquehanna 
was  blessed  by  your  presence  surely  ! 

Asylum  knew  many  other  distinguished  visit- 
ors. Talleyrand  was  there  for  some  time  in  1705, 
and  in  1796,  Louis  Philippe,  afterward  King  of 
France,  accompanied  by  his  brothers,  the  Duke 
Montpensier  and  the  Count  Beaujolais,  tarried 
awhile  on  their  way  from  Niagara  to  Philadelphia,. 

—59— 


also  General  Ternant,  ambassador  to  the  United 
States. 

Bright  spots  their  visits  in  the  dull  routine  of 
life  at  Asylum,  links  with  a  happy  past ;  the  vol- 
atile nature  of  the  French  asserted  itself,  and  the 
hours  were  spent  in  feasting,  rejoicing  and  hunt- 
ing ;  or,  were  the  weather  pleasant,  all  repaired 
to  the  dancing  pavilion  on  Prospect  Rock,  where 
were  held  out  of  door  fetes,  souvenirs  of  Trianon, 
doubtless  the  first  picnics  in  America. 

Though  discontented  with  their  surroundings, 
and  disappointed  in  the  death  of  the  Queen  (the 
news  of  which  was  more  than  tardy  in  reaching 
the  settlement),  yet  the  French  amused  them- 
selves as  best  they  could,  to  the  disgust  of  the 
Americans  around  them. 

One  of  the  present  (1895)  oldest  inhabitants  of 
Asylum  still  tells  that  when  his  father  felled  a 
tree,  they  would  ask  him  to  put  it  across  a  stump 
that  they  might  while  away  the  hours  ' '  teeter 
tautering,"  paying  an  equivalent  of  10  shillings  for 
every  teeter.  He  also  says  they  would  send  his 
father  miles  out  of  the  way  to  cut  down  trees  so 
they  could  get  a  good  view  of  the  valley. 

Judge  Stevens  says  : 

"Their  amusements  consisted  in  riding,  walking,  swinging, 
musick  (&  perhaps  dancing)  and  sometimes  they  passed  their 
time  with  cards,  chess  or  the  Back  Gammon  Board.  In  their 
maners  they  were  courteous,  Polite  &  affable.  In  their  living 
they  followed  the  French  customs.  Breakfasted  late  on  Coffee 
Fresh  Meat  Bread  &  butter — Dined  at  4  o-clock,  Drank  best 
wine  or  Brandy,  after  dinner.  Ladies  and  gentlemen  who 
chose  drank  Tea  at  evening.  I  speak  of  the  wealthy,  they  were 
able  to  command  the  best  of  everything. 

—60— 


r 


0  ^'  ^  1 


~7 


"To  conclude,  the  French  who  constituted  the  settlement  at 
Asylum  consisted  of  4  different  classes  of  people ;  some  of  the 
Nobility,  and  Gentlemen  of  the  Court  of  Louis  16 — several  of 
the  Clergy,  a  few  Mechanics  and  a  number  of  the  Labouring 
class,  all  of  whom  were  entirely  ignorant  of  the  customs  of  the 
country,  of  the  method  of  clearing  and  cultivating  the  soil,  of 
keeping  or  working  cattle,  of  Building  houses,  of  making 
roads,  and  in  fact  of  everything  relating  to  the  settlement  of  a 
new  country.  Also  ignorant  of  our  language  which  prevented 
them  from  obtaining  information,  and  many  labouring  people 
of  the  country  took  advantage  of  ignorance  and  want  of  ex- 
perience, and  charged  twice  and  in  some  instances  4  times  the 
value  of  the  labour." 

None  of  the  colonists  were  fitted  to  be  settlers 
in  a  forest.  Mr.  Craft  says:  "In  chopping  a 
tree  they  cut  on  all  sides  while  one  watched  to 
see  where  it  would  fall,  that  they  might  escape 
being  struck."  Nevertheless  they  began  numer- 
ous clearings  or  "  choppings  "  as  they  w^ere  call- 
ed by  the  later  settlers.  There  were  ten  quite 
well  defined  in  Albany  and  Tenny  townships.  The 
accompanying  letter  will  give  a  good  idea  of  the 
colony  in  this  respect.  The  writer  was  young  and 
not  well  versed  in  English. 

(Letter  from  Alexander  d'Autremont  to  Chas.  Boulogne.) 

Asylum  July  20th  1795. 

Mr.  Boulogne 
Sir 

we  have  received  the  news  of  your  arrival  here  with  all  the 
joy  which  you  may  easily  presume  it  could  give  us,  but  our  joy 
would  have  been  more  felt  if  the  circumstances  in  which  we 
find  ourselves  would  not  force  us  to  quit  a  place  where  we  have 
been  so  cruelly  deceived  &  so  unhappy  &  that  in  the  very 
moment  we  hear  you  have  fixed  your  residence  at  Asylum. 

from  the  very  beginning  of  this  letter  you'll  say  it  is  the  cry- 
ing bird  who  writes  to  me.     but  could  it  be  possible  to  look  on 

—61— 


our  situation  with  indifference  Indebted  as  we  are  to  you  with- 
out forseeing  when  we  will  be  able  to  pay.  in  such  an  horrid 
country  as  this  where  we  dayly  make  an  extravagant  expense 
by  the  high  price  of  all  kinds  of  provisions  and  all  that  with- 
out any  benefit  whatsoever  even  success,  to  our  work,  for,  after 
having  spent  much  money  for  the  portage  of  our  effects  on 
these  lands  we  shall  be  obliged  to  transport  them  again  to  the 
town,  on  account  of  the  impossibility  in  which  we  are  to  live 
this  winter  in  the  woods  for  want  of  land  in  sufficient  quantity 
sowed  to  provide  even  for  our  cattle. 

In  my  last  handed  to  you  by  Mr.  Keating  I  mentioned  to  you 
that  the  clearing  was  going  on  very  slowly  that  Mr.  De 
Montulle  had  made  an  undertaking  above  his  strength,  and 
that  from  the  way  they  were  going  on  it  appeared  we  should 
have  nothing  sowed  this  summer,  my  fears  unluckily  have  been 
verified,  for  in  the  whole  tract  there  are  yet  only  10  acres  clear- 
ed by  Brown's  company  of  workmen  5  of  which  belong  to  Mr. 
De  Montulle  &  5  acres  to  Mr.  Brevost,  the  latter  are  not  even 
ready,  the  logs  not  being  yet  burnt. 

You'll  be  able  to  judge  &  frightened  at  the  same  time  of  the 
obstacles  the  settlers  have  to  overcome  ou  these  new  lands  when 
you'll  know  that  the  clearing  of  an  acre  cost  to  the  company 
near  30  Dollars,  to  give  you  an  idea  thereof  you  may  easily  cal- 
culate. There  is  a  company  of  ten  men  who  are  at  work  since 
the  beginning  of  May  on  Mr.  de  Laroue's  land,  who  will  have 
nearly  done  in  15  days,  and  all  that  time  to  clear  between  11 
&  12  acres  of  ground,  from  that  it  appears  to  me  that  Mr.  de 
Laroue's  clearing  will  come  to  36  Dollars  thereabout  per  acre 
everybody  here  is  disgusted,  every  body  talks  of  quitting,  even 
Mr.  de  Montulle  who  says  that  if  he  could  get  one  or  2  shillings 
proffit  on  his  purchase  per  acre  he  would  give  up  all  Ideas  of 
settling  in  this  Country 

Come  Sir,  Come  very  quick,  come  to  reestablish  confidence 
for  it  is  terribly  low  every  where ;  your  arrival  will  doubtless 
cheer  up  many  people,  as  for  us  except  the  pleasure  of  seeing 
you  it  is  almost  impossible  that  your  residence  here  (our 
only  wish  last  spring)  could  make  us  support  with  patience 
our  misfortunes,     it  is  high  time  for  us  not  to  trouble  you  any 

—62— 


more  of  Individuals  that  have  always  weighed  very  heavy  upon 
you  without  being  able  to  show  you  their  gratitude 

Dont  believe  that  my  complaints  &  the  resolution  which  my 
family  hath  taken  of  quitting  for  ever  this  country  are  the  re- 
sultat  of  inconstanty  or  levity  of  our  minds,  but  come  here 
very  soon,  see  &  Judge  yourself  of  our  situation  &  Mr.  Brevost 
is  in  the  same  resolution 

if  I  was  alone  far  from  complaining  of  my  situation  I  would 
Laught  at  it,  but  I  have  a  mother  who  begins  to  be  old  whom  I 
cannot  leave  to  herself,  therefore  I  pass  my  yong  Days  in  an 
occupation  which  will  never  give  me  a  penny's  proffit;  all  that 
I  foresee  for  me  is  to  be  for  ever  ruined  &  remain  in  the  im- 
possibility of  doing  any  thing  if  I  continue  to  stay  on  Land 
that  cost  30  Dollars  per  acre  for  clearing 

besides  my  personnal  sorrows  I  must  answer  for  a  sum  Due 
by  the  Company  to  one  Fuller  for  some  wheat  which  hath  been 
delivered  and  not  paid  to  him ;  he  hath  obtained  a  Writ  against 
me  as  having  contracted  with  him ;  all  I  could  obtain  was  a 
Delay  which  will  be  at  end  the  18th  of  august,  the  sum 
amounts  to  4  pounds 

Esq  Gore  hath  in  his  hands  for  60  or  70  Dollars  of  your 
notes  of  hands,  he  remitted  me  a  letter  which  herein  inclosed 
in  which  he  explains  the  matter 

if  yoa  have  not  sold  your  farm  near  Philadelphia  and  if  you 
have  not  engaged  a  farmer,  &  if  it  could  suit  you  to  take  my 
family  as  farmer  I  would  accept  with  pleasure. 

Waiting  for  the  pleasure  of  seeing  you  or  hearing  from  you 
I  remain 

D'autremont  jr. 

When  Napoleon  invited  the  return  to  France 
of  the  emigres,  none  were  more  pleased  than 
those  at  Asylum.  When  the  postman  brought 
the  news  he  Avaved  his  hat  and  shouted  to  all  he 
met  until  he  was  hoarse;  every  one  followed  his 
example,  throwing  up  their  hats,  shouting  "Vive 
la  France,"  and  in  true  French  fashion  hugging 
and  kissing  each  other  in  rapture.     Days  were 

—63— 


spent  in  feasting  and  rejoicing,  and  the  majority- 
prepared  to  return  as  fast  as  they  could  secure 
the  means.  Of  those  most  prominent  in  the 
colony  Talon  had  already  returned  to  Europe. 

De  Noailles  turned  his  attention  for  a  while  to 
other  land  speculations  and  amassed  a  considera- 
ble sum  of  money  on  Philadelphia  Stock  Ex- 
change. He  asked  to  re-enter  the  French  army 
and  was  ordered  to  the  West  Indies.  He  never  re- 
turned to  France.  We  have  already  told  of 
Dupetithouars.  John  Keating  lived  and  died 
in  Philadephia.  M.  de  Blacon  returned  to 
France  and  became  a  member  of  the  National 
Assembly;  met  death  at  his  own  hands 
after  reverses  at  the  gaming  table.  Dr.  Buzard 
went  to  Havana  and  became  an  eminent  physician . 
Ezra  Fromentin,  acting  priest  in  the  little  log 
chapel,  became  a  judge  in  Florida;  JohnBrevost, 
said  to  be  the  last  Frenchman  to  leave  Asylum, 
removed  to  the  South  where  he  died  of  yellow 
fever.  Abbe  Colin  went  to  the  West  Indies  as 
chaplain  in  the  army,  returned  to  Charleston,  S. 
C,  where  he  died.  Charles  Boulogne  (says 
Judge  Stevens  in  1824),  "was  an  enterprising 
man,  built  the  second  best  house  in  Asylum,  was 
drowned  while  trying  to  ford  the  Loyalsock  creek 
in  1799,  and  is  buried  at  Asylum."  BecdelUere 
returned  to  France,  Peter  Regnier  returned  to 
Europe,  but  after  two  years  came  again  to  Amer- 
ica and  wrote  to  an  acquaintance  '*  with  the  in- 
tention never  to  quit  it  again,  being  of  opinion 
that  there  is  not  a  better  country  in  the  world." 
He  settled  in  Delaware.     Beaulieu  remained  in 

—64— 


America,  his  descendants  being  known  by  name 
of  Boileau.  Aubrey  died  in  Philadelphia.  Of  the 
four  families  who  remained  at  Asylum  or  there- 
abouts it  is  thought  best  to  give  more  extended 
notices  at  close  of  volume. 

The  colony  dragged  out  a  forlorn  existence  for 
about  ten  years  from  its  inception.  We  have  no 
very  positive  records  as  to  when  the  most  promi- 
nent refugees  deserted  it.  In  1801  Brevost  ad- 
vertised the  opening  of  a  French  school  at  Asy- 
lum. (See  note).  But  if  estabUshed  at  all  it  was 
not  of  long  duration,  as  we  hear  of  him  not  long 
after  in  New  Orleans.  The  settlers  sold  most  of 
their  lands  to  Charles  Honiet  and  Barthoiemew 
Laporte,  abandoning  their  houses,  which  grad- 
ually went  to  decay.  Judge  Stevens  says  "  river 
freshets  swept  away  the  principal  street,  leaving 
only  the  chimneys,  which  of  course  tumbled  on 
the  beach."    Recent  surveys  prove  this  untrue. 


Advertisement. 
*WILKES-BARRE  GAZETTE— PUBLISHED  BY  JOSEPH  WRIGHT. 

A   FRENCH  SCHOOL. 

The  subscriber,  a  Frenchman  born  in  Paris,  where  he  resided  from  his 
birth  until  he  was  thirty  three  years  of  age,  respectfully  informs  the  public 
that  he  intends  to  open  at  Asylum  a  school  for  teaching  the  FrencTi  lan- 
guage. He  Hatters  himself  that  he  is  able  to  give  a  knowledge  of  his 
tongue  and  its  pronunciation  as  it  is  spoken  among  the  well  educated  peo- 

Ele  of  Paris.  He  knows  by  experience  th<'it  in  a  period  of  eighteen  months, 
y  living  in  his  family  and  pursuing  a  regular  course  of  study,  a  child  of 
common  understanding  and  who  is  previously  taught  to  write  "will  be  able 
to  speak  that  tongue  correctly. 

The  price  of  tuition  and  boarding  a  child  between  the  age  of  ten  and  sLe- 
teen  years,  will  be  sixty  bushels  of  wheat  per  year,  to  be  delivered  at  New- 
town, Tioga,  Asylum,  or  AVilkesBarre,  at  the  places  pointed  out  by  the 
subscriber,  one  half  every  six  months. 

It  is  well  known  how  useful  is  the  knowledge  of  a  language  which  within 
a  hundred  years  has  become  the  common  tongue  of  Europe:  is  spoken  by 
two  large  regions  of  the  continent  and  which  the  reward  of  a  sincere 
friendship  between  the  American  and  French  nations  will  render  necessary 
to  young  gentlemen  who  intend  to  follow  the  political  or  mercantile  life 

John  Brevost 
Asylum,  Luzerne  Co.  Penna  Jan  5.  1801. 

—65— 


In  1804  Asylum  was  visited  by  Alex.  Wilson, 
but  must  have  been  practically  abandoned  then. 
In  1809  a  traveler  mentions  passing  "the  ruins  of 
Asylum."  In  1824  few  houses  were  standing  ex- 
cept that  of  Talon,  which  was  occupied  by  the 
Laportes  and  others  until  in  the  forties.  In  1836 
the  whole  town  site  was  plowed  up  by  Ulysses 
Moody;  he  told  the  writer  it  was  grown  over  with 
saplings  and  nothing  remained  of  the  houses  but 
the  cellars.  To-day  not  a  trace  remains  except 
in  the  old  French  road,  a  few  country  roads, 
where  streets  were  laid  out,  and  the  names  of  La- 
porte  and  Homet. 

Asylum  to-day  is  situated  in  Bradford  County. 
The  original  township  was  taken  from  Wyalusing 
in  1814.  From  this  Albany  was  set  off  in  1824. 
Durell  was  formed  from  Asylum,  Monroe  and 
Wilmot  in  1842.  Wilmot  reorganized  with 
part  of  Asylum  in  1858.  Then  followed  a  dispute 
over  names,  settled  in  1859  by  changing  the  name 
of  Durell  to  Asylum  and  of  what  had  been 
Asylum  last  to  Terry,  To  visit  Asylum  one  may 
stop  off  at  the  station  on  Lehigh  Valley  R.  R., 
called  Homet's  Ferry,  cross  the  ferry  and  per- 
suade someone  to  carry  him  to  the  site  of  the  old 
French  town,  now  included  in  the  farms  of  the 
Laportes,  Gordons  and  Hagermans.  The  Hager- 
man  house  was  built  by  Judge  Laporte  and  is 
just  south  of  the  site  of  home  of  Talon.  Drink 
from  the  spring  that  furnished  water  for  Talon's 
house,  climb  the  hill  to  the  little  burial  plot,  or 
to  the  spot  where  the  French  ladies  delighted  to 
have  tea.     Are  you  not  one  in  sympathy  with 

—66— 


those  who  commanded  the  cutting  of  trees  that 
obstructed  the  view  ? 

Probably  no  unsettled  country  ever  saw  in 
its  midst  a  colony  representative  of  so  much 
brilliancy  and  suffering  as  this  "Azilum," 
with  its  nobles,  court  gentlemen,  soldiers, 
clergy,  together  with  many  a  lesser  light  who 
had  suffered  in  the  crash.  Here  Royalists,  Con- 
stitutionalists, Republicans,  aristocrats  and  ple- 
bians  found  a  common  bond  in  the  scars 
which  adversity  had  left  upon  them.  For 
there  were  few  amoug  them  who  had  not 
lost  friends  or  property.  Their  hearts  were 
ever  in  France,  and  their  ears  strained  for  every 
scrap  of  precious  news.  And  when  opportunity 
came  they  were  ready  once  more  to  share  the 
fortunes  of  their  beloved  country,  to  work,  fight 
or  die  for  her.  Soon  to  its  founders  "Azilum" 
was  but  one  of  the  less  lurid  bits  of  an  existence 
in  which  the  Revolution  left  small  chance  of 
monotony.  But  to  the  Yankee  settler  it  was 
one  of  the  bright  spots  in  his  life  of  isolation  and 
struggle  in  the  wilderness.  Fresh  from  the 
haunts  of  civilization,  and  from  a  country  fa- 
mous for  its  luxury  and  frivolity,  this  little  group 
of  men  brought  into  the  dull  life  of  the  back- 
woods a  zest  in  life,  a  spirit,  and  a  mode  of  living 
which  was  a  marvel  to  the  frontiersman  and  to 
his  descendants  to  this  day.  Many  are  the  tradi- 
tions which  still  survive  of  the  frivolity  that  even 
hardship  could  not  repress;  these  the  simple, 
sturdy  pioneer  treasured  in  his  heart  against  the 
harmless  refugees  of  alien  birth.     Yet  he  had 

—67— 


much  to  thank  them  for.  Better  roads,  regular 
posts,  more  comforts  of  civilization,  money  set 
into  circulation,  not  to  speak  of  the  very  breath 
of  life  which  contact  with  men  of  culture  brought 
to  the  mind-starved  pioneer  of  the  Pennsylvania 
wilderness. 

Short  notices  of  tlie  colony  are  occasionally  found  in  old  pub- 
lications issued  in  the  early  part  of  this  century.  On  page  534 
of  "Travels  through  the  States  of  North  America  and  the 
Provinces  of  Upper  and  Lower  Canada  during  the  years  1795, 
1796,  1797,  by  Isaac  Weld  Jr.,  printed  by  John  Stockdale, 
Piccadilly,  London,  1800,"  is  the  following  description  : 

"The  whole  way  between Lochartzburg and  Wilkesbarre  are 
settlements  on  each  side  of  the  river,  at  no  great  distance  from 
each  other;  there  are  also  several  towns  on  the  bank  of  the 
river.  The  principal  one  is  Frenchtown,  situated  within  a 
short  distance  of  the  Falls  of  Wyalusing  on  the  western  side  of 
the  river.  This  town  was  laid  out  at  the  expense  of  several 
philanthropic  persons  in  Pennsylvania,  who  entered  into  a  sub- 
scription for  the  purpose,  as  a  place  of  retreat  for  the  unfor- 
tunate emigrants  who  fled  to  America.  The  town  contains 
about  fifty  log  houses,  and  for  the  use  of  the  inhabitants  a  con- 
siderable tract  of  land  has  been  purchased  adjoining  to  it, 
which  has  been  divided  into  farms.  The  French  settled  here 
seem,  however,  to  have  no  great  inclination  or  ability  to  culti- 
vate the  earth,  and  the  greater  part  of  them  have  let  their  lands 
at  a  small  yearly  rent  to  Americans,  and  amuse  themselves  with 
driving  deer,  fishing  and  fowling ;  they  live  entirely  to  them- 
selves; they  hate  the  Americans,  and  the  Americans  in  the 
neighborhood  hate  and  accuse  them  of  being  an  idle  dissipated 
set.  The  manners  of  the  two  people  are  so  very  different  that 
it  is  impossible  they  should  ever  agree." 

In  a  little  volume  entitled  "The  Foresters,  a  poem  descrip- 
tive of  a  Pedestrian  Journey  to  the  Falls  of  Niagara,  in  the 
autumn  of  1804,  by  Alexander  Wilson,  author  of  American 
Ornithology,"  on  page  35,  is  the  following  mention  of  the 
colony : 

—68— 


"  Gaul's  exiled  royalists,  a  pensive  train, 
Here  raise  the  hut  and  till  the  rough  domain. 
The  way-worn  pilgrim  to  their  fires  receive, 
Supply  his  wants  ;  but  at  his  tidings  grieve  ; 
Afflicting  news  I  for  ever  on  the  wing, 
A  ruined  country  and  a  murdered  Kingl 
Peace  to  their  lone  retreats  while  sheltered  here, 
May  these  deep  shades  to  them  be  doubly  dear  ; 
And  Power's  proud  worshippers,  wherever  placed, 
Who  saw  such  grandeur  ruined  and  defaced. 
By  deeds  of  virtue  to  themselves  secure 
Those  inborn  joys,  that,  spite  of  Kings,  endure. 
Though  thrones  and  states  from  their  foundations  part ; 
The  precious  balsam  of  a  blameless  heart." 

The  colony  at  this  time  must  have  been  practically  abandon- 
ed, for  in  an  old  letter  written  by  Madame  du  Pont  de  Ne- 
mours, from  Delaware,  to  my  great-grandmother  at  Angelica, 
in  1809,  describing  a  journey  she  had  just  made  from  Angelica 
to  the  Brandywine,  she  speaks  of  passing  the  ruins  of  Asylum, 
the  old  home  of  her  correspondent.  I  have  often  heard  my 
father  say  that  after  the  house  intended  for  the  Queen  was  com- 
pleted, the  refugees,  without  loss  of  time,  erected  a  log  theatre. 
Duke  de  la  Rochefoucauld  Liancourt  visited  Asylum  in  1795, 
and  his  description  thereof  is  the  most  authentic  one  with  which 
I  am  acquainted. 

C.  d'Autremont,  Jr. 

Duluth,  Minn.,  April  5,  1897. 


—69— 


^^^ 


p/%e»mi^ 


i^^a- 


fbl^cy  ,  oU 


Extracts  from  Chevalier  de  Pont- 
gibaud. 

We  have  but  recently  obtained  a  copy  of  a 
book  published  in  1898,  a  translation  of  the 
"Memoirs  du  Comte  de  M,"  or  "  More  "  better 
known  as  the  " Chevalier  de  Pontgibaud,"  "one 
of  the  gallant  little  band  of  Frenchmen  who 
crossed  the  Atlantic  to  aid  the  American  colonists 
to  gain  their  independence." 

His  impressions  or  memoirs  were  written  forty 
years  later.  We  give  herewith  an  extract  relat- 
ing to  Asylum  and  its  founders,  to  which  our  at- 
tention was  called  by  the  Historical  Society  of 
Pennsylvania.  "M.  S."  and  "M.  T.,"  are  evident- 
ly the  same  person,  and  no  doubt  Talon.  This 
was  written  in  connection  with  the  chevalier's 
third  visit  to  America  in  1793  : 

"  Duportail  (French  ex-Mioister  of  War)  told  me  the  names 
of  the  French  refugees  who  had  formed  in  Philadelphia  an  ark 
of  safety  like  that  of  Noah. 

The  blowing  up  of  the  good  ship,  the  French  Monarchy,  had 
been  caused  by  their  follies,  and  the  explosion  had  thrown  a 
good  number  over  to  the  United  States. — They  kept  their  eyes 
fixed  on  France,  to  which  they  all  expected  to  return  sooner  or 
later  and  recommence  what  each  called  his  great  icprh,  for 
there  were  exactly  the  same  number  of  political  systems  as 
there  were  refugees.  You  might  have  believed  yourself  in  the 
Elysian  Fields,  6th  Book  of  ^neid,  where  the  shades  still 
pursue  the  same  ideas  they  had  cherished  in  the  other  world. 

But  a  man  must  live,  and  the   most  curious  spectacle  was  to 

—71— 


see  these  Frenchmen,  fallen  from  their  former  greatness,  and 
now  exercising  some  trade  or  profession.  One  day  I  entered  a 
shop  to  buy  some  pens  and  paper  and  found  the  proprietor  to 
be — one  of  the  famous  'electors'  of  1789. 

A  good  many  other  personages  besides  'the  electors  of 
1789',  and  who  when  in  France  had  cut  quite  another  figure, 
were  to  be  found  walkmg  about  the  streets  of  Philadelphia,  as 
the  Vicomte  de  Noailles,  Due  de  L  (iancourt)  and  M.  S. 
(Talon  ?)  Volney,  the  Bishop  of  Autun,  and  'tutti  quanti.' 

Some  of  them  gambled  on  the  Stock  Exchange,  and  nearly 
always  successfully.  Others  were  not  so  fortunate,  and  their 
speculations  were  more  risky ;  nor  were  they  above  laying  traps 
for  their  countrymen  who  had  newly  arrived  in  America. 

Senator  Morris  had  conceived  a  vast  and  adventurous  under- 
taking. 

The  celebrated  Burke  had  written  somewhere  or  other 
that  Europe  was  about  to  totally  collapse,  and  that  North 
America  was  destined  to  receive  the  refugees  and  all  the  goods 
they  were  able  to  save.  The  Senator,  in  company  with  M.  S. 
(Talon  ?)  and  Vicomte  de  Noailles,  speculated  on  this  prophe- 
cy. They  acquired  more  than  a  million  acres,  situated  on  the 
banks  of  the  Susquebannah,  and  this  land,  divided  into  large  or 
small  lots,  was  advertised  in  the  papers  under  the  heading  of 
"Good  land  to  be  sold."  Nothing  was  said  about  residences — 
the  purchaser  was  apparently  to  build  his  house  to  suit  his  own 
taste  ?  To  encourage  their  clients  they  also  constructed  in  the 
city  an  immense  building  in  which  all  the  great  personages 
they  were  expecting  on  the  faith  of  Edmund  Burke  could  be 
suitably  lodged.  The  Pope,  the  Sacred  College,  a  few  de- 
throned Monarchs,  and  other  notables,  were  to  rest  there  till 
they  had  recovered  from  the  effects  of  their  sea  voyage,  and 
before  making  up  their  minds  to  purchase  a  slice  of  American 
territory. 

It  is  literally  true  that  this  enterprising  company  had  agents 
on  the  lookout  for  all  emigrants  who  arrived  from  Europe. 
Their  factotums  kept  a  watchful  eye  on  all  newly-landed  pas- 
sengers, who  appeared  to  have  some  baggage,  and  not  only 
compassionated  their  misfortunes,  but  offered  them  the  means 

—72— 


of  repairing  their  loss,  by  the  purchase,  in  a  new  and  hospita- 
ble land,  of  another  estate  of  dimensions  proportionate  to  the 
means  of  each  newcomer.  The  price  was  reasonable  enough, 
only  six  francs  an  acre— but  the  agent  did  not  say  that  it  had 
cost  the  Company  he  represented  only  fifteen  cents  an  acre. 

I  knew  a  milliner  who  had  made  some  money,  and  who  pur- 
chased an  estate  at  Asylum,  the  fictitious  capital  of  this  imag- 
inary colony.  The  poor  dupe  went  to  inspect  the  estate  she 
had  bought  the  right  to  build  on,  cultivate,  and  live  upon — and 
then  she  came  back  to  Philadelphia  to  gain  her  living  with  her 
ten  fingers  as  she  had  previously  done. 

One  of  these  agents — applied  to  me — started  at  once  with  a 
long  discourse  on  the  principles  of  humanity  which  animated 
this  enterprise,  and  then  went  on  to  boast — "All  materials  are 
at  hand,  and  everything  has  been  provided.  There  is  a  mas- 
ter builder  paid  by  the  Company.  We  have  even  a  restaurant 
in  order  to  spare  trouble  to  our  newly-arrived  colonists."  He 
strongly  urged  me  to  buy  five  hundred  acres  of  this  new  Promised 
Land  for  the  moderate  sum  of  1000  erowns.  When  he  finished 
I  told  him  that  200  acres  of  that  land  would  not  support  a  cow, 
— that  I  knew  all  about  the  district,  &c.,  &c.,  and  I  have  never 
seen  a  man  look  more  disconcerted  than  this  unlucky  agent  did. 

Providence,  however,  did  not  permit  the  enterprise  to  suc- 
ceed, and  the  three  speculators  came  to  a  bad  end.  Senator 
Morris,  crippled  with  debts,  died  in  prison ;  M.  T(alon)  went 
mad,  and  Vicomte  de  Noailles,  after  having  won  four  or  five 
hundred  thousand  francs  on  the  Philadelphia  Exchange,  left 
for  St.  Domingo,  where  he  was  killed  on  board  an  English 
cruiser,  lie,  at  least,  died  like  a  brave  man,  as  he  had  lived ; 
that  much  praise  is  due  to  his  memory,  but  that  does  not  pre- 
vent me  from  relating  a  story  concerning  him  which  is  a  proof 
the  more  of  the  inconsistency  displayed  by  some  of  our 
illustrious  faiseurs  during  the  Revolution.  The  incident  oc- 
curred under  my  own  eyes,  and  I  laughed  heartily  at  it,  as 
everybody  else  did. 

This  ex-Vicomte  had  a  deed  drawn  up  at  Philadelphia  by  one 
of  the  notaries  of  the  city,  and  when  it  was  read  over  to  him, 
he  perceived  that  he  was  mentioned  therein  by  the  name  of  M. 

—73— 


de  Noailles.  He  was  exceedingly  augry  at  this,  and  insisted 
that  the  deed  should  be  re-written  and  none  of  his  titles  for- 
gotten— Vicomte,  Knight  of  Saint  Louis,  Knight  of  Malta, 
etc.  The  next  day,  the  newspapers  were  impertinent  enough 
to  repeat — con  licinza  superiori — what  had  passed  in  the  office, 
and  all  Philadelphia  knew  of  the  quarrel  of  the  Vicomte  with 
his  notary.  The  story  was  accompanied  with  a  note  to  this 
effect:  "It  is  singular  that  a  member  of  the  Constitutional  As- 
sembly, who  proposed  the  law  of  ci-divanU — a  French  noble- 
man who,  on  the  famous  night  of  4.th  August  made  a  holacaust 
of  the  titles,  deeds,  armorial  bearings,  etc.,  of  all  the  nobility, 
commencing  with  his  own — should  insist  on  these  titles  being 
applied  to  him  in  a  land  of  political  equality,  where  all  distinc- 
tions are  unknown." 

Mr.  Douglas,  the  translator  of  this  book,  has  supplied  notes 
on  some  of  the  principal  charaters.  Of  de  Noailles,  he  says: 
"  Towards  the  close  of  the  year  1800,  his  name  was  removed 
from  the  list  of  emigres,  but  his  business  affairs  in  the  United 
States  were  so  extensive  that  he  refused  to  return  to  France. 
In  1803  he  went  to  Hayti  on  business  and  there  met  Rocham- 
beau,  who  entrusted  him  with  the  care  of  a  fort — blockaded  by 
a  British  squadron.  Rocharabeau  was  forced  to  capitulate, — 
De  Noailles  was  summoned  to  surrender,  but  replied  that  "a 
French  general  who  had  provisions,  ammunition  and  devoted 
soldiers  could  not  surrender  without  shame."  He  then  clev- 
erly got  all  his  men  on  board  ship  under  cover  of  darkness  and 
joined  Rochambeau  without  being  discovered,  and  went  to 
Cuba.  He  embarked  for  Havana  on  a  small  ship  with 
a  company  of  grenadiers.  They  fell  in  with  a  Brit- 
ish sloop  of  war,  the  Hazard,  whose  captain  he  de- 
ceived by  displaying  the  British  flag  and  hailing  them 
in  good  English.  The  British  captain  asked  if  they  had 
seen  General  de  Noailles,  whom  they  were  commissioned  to 
capture,  and  de  Noailles  replied  that  he  was  on  the  same  errand. 
They  sailed  together,  and  in  the  middle  of  the  night  de  Noailles 
ran  his  vessel  into  the  other,  boarded  her,  and  after  a  bi-ave 
defense  captured  her.  But  de  Noailles  was  mortally  wounded 
and  died  a  week  later,  January  9,  1804,  at  Havana.     He  was 

—74— 


so  beloved  that  his  grenadiers  enclosed   his  heart  in  a  silver 
box,  attached  it  to  their  flag,  and  carried  it  back  to  France." 

Although  in  early  Revolutionary  times  he  took 
the  oath  of  fidelity  to  the  nation,  it  was  de  Noailles 
who  rescued  Marie  Antoinette  from  an  insulting 
and  dangerous  mob  at  the  time  of  the  Joyous 
Entry;  aided  by  a  friend,  he  took  her  up  in  his 
arms  and  carried  her  to  a  place  of  safet^^ 


—75— 


T'y  (L£s^^>-^^ 


^^ 


-76- 


@@ 


-A^ 


BIOGRAPHIES. 


®)(S) 


r 


if. , 


Keating. 


John  Keating  came  of  an  Irish  family  origin- 
ally of  English  extraction.  Henry,  the  first  of 
the  name  in  the  family  record,  lived  within  the 
so-called  English  Pale  in  the  Fourteenth  century. 
His  descendants  were  summoned  to  Parliament 
as  barons  of  the  realm  and  suffered  on  account  of 
thar  religion  first  during  the  reign  of  Elizabeth, 
and  again  at  the  hands  of  Cromwell,  by  whom 
they  were  deprived  of  their  possessions.  James 
Keating,  a  second  son  in  the  line  of  descent,  who 
lived  in  the  Fifteenth  Century,  was  Grand  Prior 
of  the  Order  of  Malta  and  one  of  the  thirteen 
Brothers  of  St.  George,  an  English  Order  of  Chiv- 
alry instituted  in  aid  of  the  House  of  York  during 
the  wars  of  the  Roses.  Geoffrey  Keating,  who 
lived  in  the  Sixteenth  Century,  was  the  well- 
known  historian  of  Ireland.  Another  Geoffrey 
was  captain  in  the  Irish  army  at  the  battle  of 
Aughrimand  siege  of  Limerick  in  1691,  and  after 
the  capitulation,  crossed  to  France  with  his  regi- 
ment, which  then  took  the  name  of  the  Queen's 
Regiment  and  formed  part  of  the  celebrated  Irish 
Brigade,  serving  under  Catinat  in  Italy  in  the 
wars  of  Louis  XIV.  He  then  returned  to  Ireland 
whence  his  son  Valentine  emigrated  to  France 
in  1766  to  escape  religious  persecution.  Upon  his 
arrival  at  St.  Germain,  letters  patent  of  nobility 

—79— 


were  granted  Valentine  by  Louis  XV.   in  recog- 
nition of  his  rank  in  Ireland. 

John,  the  son  of  Valentine,  and  tenth  in  des- 
cent from  the  original  Henry,  was  one  of  five 
brothers,  four  of  whom  entered  the  French  ser- 
vice, and  were  officers  in  the  regiment  Walsh- 
Serrant  of  the  Irish  Brigade.  The  batallion  to 
which  John  and  two  of  his  brothers  belonged  was 
sent  to  Martinique  in  1780  under  Ct.  de  Guichen. 
Thomas,  the  eldest,  took  part  in  three  engage- 
ments with  Admiral  Rodney,  and  John,  in  the 
capture  of  Tabago.  Thomas  subsequently  rose 
to  the  rank  of  major-general,  commanding  an 
army  corps  in  Belgium,  which  saw  active  service 
under  the  French  Republic.  He  was  imprisoned 
by  Robespierre,  and  died  from  the  effects  of  his 
ill  treatment.  Both  he  and  his  brother  William 
were  awarded  the  cross  of  St.  Louis  for  meritori- 
ous services.  Thomas  was  subsequently,  in  1792, 
upon  recommendation  of  King  Louis  XVI.  ad- 
mitted, in  company  with  other  French  officers, 
to  the  order  of  the  Cincinnati,  presumably  on 
account  of  his  participation  in  the  campaign  in 
America.  While  in  Martinique  in  1781,  John 
took  part  in  a  secret  expedition  destined,  as  it 
was  supposed,  for  the  United  States,  but  while 
on  their  way  up  the  coast,  they  were  met  by  a 
sloop  of  war  sent  by  Ct.  de  Grasse  to  inform  them 
of  the  surrender  of  Cornwallis,  whereupon  the 
course  was  changed  and  the  fleet  headed  for  the 
island  of  St.  Eustacius,  which  had  just  been  cap- 
tured by  the  English  from  the  Dutch.  This  they 
stormed  with    brilliant   success,    against    great 

—80— 


odds,  capturing  the  commander  and  his  entire 
force. 

The  regiment  returned  to  France  in  1783,  was 
sent  to  the  island  of  Mauritius  in  1788,  and  again 
visiting  Martinique  on  its  way  home,  (where  John 
was  presented  to  the  future  Empress  Josephine) 
was  tinally  ordered  to  San  Domingo  in  1792,  and 
there  John  was  placed  in  temporary  command. 
There  being  then  but  little  prospect  of  the  resto- 
ration of  the  Bourbons,  he  resigned  his  commis- 
sion and  came  to  this  country,  having  previously 
been  honoied  with  the  military  decoration  in 
recognition  of  his  services.  His  journal,  already 
quoted,  recounts  his  arrival  in  Philadelphia  with 
but  $280  in  his  pocket,  and  provided  with  two 
letters,  one  from  the  civil  government  of  San 
Domingo  to  the  French  Consul  at  Philadelphia, 
and  the  other  from  General  Rochambeau,  then 
Military  Governor  of  San  Domingo,  to  General 
Washington.  It  also  relates  his  subsequent  con- 
nection with  Asylum.  After  the  abandonment 
of  that  colony  he  became  associated  with  de 
Noailles  in  another  land  transaction  in  Tennes- 
see, and  subsequently,  through  Messrs.  Talon  and 
Gernon.  in  a  large  purchase  of  some  300,000  acres 
of  land  in  northern  Pennsylvania,  known  as  the 
Ceres  Company,  the  management  of  which  on 
behalf  of  a  syndicate  of  foreigners  devolved  upon 
him  and  lasted  throughout  his  life. 

Shortly  after  dissolving  his  connection  with 
Asylum  he  married  Eulalia  Deschapelles,  the 
daughter  of  Alexander  Britton  Deschapelles,  a 
prominent  planter  from  San  Domingo,    of  noble 

—81  — 


French  lineage,  and  took  up  his  residence  in 
Wilmington,  Delaware.  After  his  wife's  death 
he  returned  to  Philadelphia,  where  he  resided 
during  the  balance  of  his  life.  He  died  at  the  age 
of  ninety-six,  being  for  some  time  the  last  sur- 
vivor of  the  officers  of  the  French  service  during 
the  French  prerevolutionary  period.  By  the  death 
of  his  eldest  brother,  Geoffrey,  the  title  of  Baron 
devolved  upon  him,  though,  being  then  an  Amer- 
ican citizen,  he  did  not,  of  course,  assume  it.  He 
was  associated  with  many  institutions  of  philan- 
thropy and  charity  in  Philadelphia,  and  as  his 
portrait  indicates,  was  of  imposing  stature  and 
possessed  all  the  courtly  bearing  of  a  French  gen- 
tleman of  the  old  school.  He  was  devoted  to  his 
church  and  to  the  memories  of  the  monarchy  in 
France. 

The  present  head  of  the  family  has  in  his  pos- 
session, besides  other  interesting  relics,  portraits 
of  Geoffrey  and  his  wife  (a  Quin,  whose  father 
was  the  progenitor  of  the  present  Earl  of  Dun  ra- 
ven) clad  in  gorgeous  robes  of  crimson  velvet,  the 
letters  patent  of  nobility  granted  to  Valentine  by 
Louis  XVI,  the  cross  of  St.  Louis  awarded  to 
General  Thomas  Keating,  a  portrait  of  Marie  An- 
toinette, said  to  have  been  presented  to  John 
Keating  by  the  Due  de  Berry,  and  a  miniature  of 
Talon  presented  by  himself. 

John's  oldest  son,  John  Julius,  married  Eliza- 
beth Hopkinson,  a  grandaughter  of  Francis 
Hopkinson,  the  signer,  and  died  early.  His 
widow  subsequently  mari'ied  William  Biddle, 
brother  of  Nicholas   Biddle,    the   financier,   and 

—82— 


lived  to  an  advanced  age.  She  knew  all  the  great 
statesmen  of  the  ante-war  period,  visited  the 
White  House  as  the  guest  of  John  Quincy 
Adams,  travelled  extensively  abroad  and  was 
possessed  of  a  most  interesting  personality.  Her 
memoirs  would  have  been  most  entertainmg. 

John's  second  son,  William  H.,  was  one  of  Pliil- 
adelphia's  foremost  citizens  some  seventy  years 
ago.  While  a  member  of  the  legal  profession  he 
early  devoted  himself  to  scientific  pursuits.  He 
accompanied  Long  in  his  pioneer  exploration  of 
the  Yellowstone,  and  wrote  the  history  of  the 
expedition;  was  Professor  of  Chemistry  at  the 
University  of  Pennsylvania;  was  also  one  of  the 
projectors  of  the  Philadelphia  and  Reading  Rail- 
road Company,  and  in  company  with  Frederick 
Fraley  and  others,  founded  the  Franklin  Insti- 
tute. His  brother  and  he  were  members  of  the 
State  Legislature  at  the  same  time,  and  his  activ- 
ities ex;tended  in  many  and  various  directions. 
He  married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  J.  Eric  Boll- 
man,  a  man  of  great  prominence  in  his  day,  who 
enjoyed  the  intimacy  of  Lafayette  and  Madame 
de  Stael,  and  took  active  part  in  many  popular 
movements  having  for  their  object  the  extension 
of  the  great  principles  laid  down  in  our  Declara- 
tion of  Independence.  John  Keatiug's  grandson, 
the  son  of  his  daughter  Eulalia,  (who  mai-ried  her 
cousin  of  the  name)  was  the  late  William  V. 
Keating,  M.  D.,  who  attained  high  rank  in  his 
profession,  and  was  Surgeon-in-Chief  of  the 
Broad  and  Cherry  Street  Hospital,  Philadelphia, 
during  the  war,  besides  holding  many  positions 
—83— 


of  honor  and  trust.  And  finally  John  Keatin^'s 
great  grandson,  the  late  John  M.  Keating,  M.  D., 
who  followed  in  his  father's  footsteps  and  enjoy- 
ed a  wide  popularity  as  a  physician,  was  a  vol- 
uminous writer  and  editor  of  medical  works, 
which  have  attained  a  world-wide  circulation. 

J.  P.  K. 

I.  John  Keating,  b.  in  Ireland,  Sept.  20,  1760, 
d.  May  19,   1856;  ra.  Eulalia  Deschapelles. 

Children: 

2  John  Julius,  b.  Sept.  16,  1Y98,  d.  . .  1824. 

3  William  H.,  b.  Aug.  11,  1799. 

4  Eulalia,  b.  Sept.  24,  1801,  d.  . .  1873. 

II.  John^  J.,  m.   1824  Elizabeth  Hopkinson. 
No  children. 

III.  William^    H.,    m.    Elizabeth    Bollman. 
Child: 

5  Ellen  E.,  b.  ..  1840. 

IV.  Eulaha^,  m.  Aug.  12,  1818,  Jerome  Keat- 
ing (cousin). 

Children: 

6  Amelia  b.  . .  1820,  d.  . .  1886. 

7  William  N.,h.  . .  1823,  d.  . .   1894. 

8  Mary,  b.  . .  1833,  d.  . .  1864. 

VI      Amelia  Keating^,  m.  1837  Peter  Bauduy, 
Child: 

m.    Caroline  Bankhead. 


IX. 

Jerome^  K.,  b, 

Children: 

10 

William  K. 

11 

Elizabeth. 

12 

Caroline  R. 

13 

Mary. 

14 

Louis. 

15 

Jerome. 

-84- 


VII.  William^  F.,  m. . .  1851  Susan  La  Roche. 
Children: 

16  John  M,  h.  . .  1852,  d.  . .  1893. 

17  J.  Percy,  b.  . .  1855,  m.  . .  1883  Caroline  E. 
Dixon. 

18  Eulalia,  b.   . .  1856. 

19  Susan  L.,h.  ..  1858. 

20  Mary,  b.  . .  1864,  m.  . .  1898  Mason  Lisle. 

21  Sophie  B.,  b.  . .   1866. 

XVI.     John"^  M.,m.  ..  1877  Edith McCall. 
Children: 

22  Edith,  b.    . .  1878. 

23  Elizabeth,  b.  ..  1880. 

24  Margaret,  b.    ..   1882. 

25  Peter  McC,  b.  . .  1884. 

XVIII.  Eulalia^,  m.  . .  1879  Mason  Campbell. 
Child: 

26  Virginia, b. . .  1881,  m.  . .  1902  John  S.  New- 
bold. 

XIX.  Susa7i^  L,  m.  . .  1884  Lindley  Johnson. 
Children : 

27  Lindley,  b.  . .  1885. 

28  Keating,  b.  ..  1887. 

29  Marion,  b.  . .  1889. 

30  Susan,  b.  . .  1890. 

VIII.  Mary  Keating^,  m.  . .  1852  Jas.  M.Will- 
cox. 

Children: 

31  WiUiam  J,  b.  . .   1856,  d.  . .   1893. 

32  Eulalia^,  b.  . .  1858,  m.    .  R.W.  Lesley,  had 
Eulalia  S  b.  . .  1880. 

33  Mary,  b.  1860. 

34  James  M.,  b.  . .  1862,  m.  . .  Louise  Lindsley 
Reed. 

—85— 


d'Autremont. 

Hubert  d'Autremont  was  a  Parisian  royalist, 
evidently  belonging  to  a  family  of  importance,  as 
evinced  both  by  his  coat  of  arms  and  his  intimacy 
with  such  prominent  Frenchmen  as  Talleyrand; 
Dupout,  a  distinguished  French  writer  and  states- 
man, who  was  one  of  the  commissioners  in  the 
Louisiana  purchase;  and  Baron  Neville,  a  bitter 
royalist.  Hubert  is  said  to  have  been  guillotined 
early  in  the  Revolution. 

His  widow,  Marie  Jeaned'Ohet,  with  her  three 
sons,  Louis  Paul,  aet.  22,  Alexander  Hubert,  aet. 
16,  and  Auguste  Francois  Cecil,  aet.  9,  left  France 
in  1792,  their  royalist  principles  making  life  un- 
certain there.  In  company  with  the  family  of  her 
sister  Madame  Lefevre,  and  some  others,  they 
came  to  America,  and  settled  on  the  Chenango 
on  lands  previously  contracted  for  in  France  from 
William  W.  Morris,  through  his  agent,  Charles 
F.  Bue  Boulogne.  They  arrived  evidently  in  the 
late  summer  of  1792,  as  an  act  of  sale  was  made 
out  by  Boulogne  in  Philadelphia,  Sept.  1792.  In 
October,  1793,  the  oldest  son  on  his  way  to  Phila- 
delphia stopped  at  Asylum,  doubtless  to  see  Bou- 
logne. It  was  he  who  carried  back  to  the  Che- 
nango settlement  an  account  of  the  proposed 
town  that  later  attracted  thither  a  number  of  his 
associates  with  his  mother's  family. 

The  power  of  attorney  under  which  Boulogne 
acted  in  making  their  contracts  was  lost  in  Paris, 
and,  having  never  been  recorded,  after  the  death 
of  Morris  and  Boulogne,  the  lands  were  lost,  or 


SOoUAA/ti^ivon/L 


sold  for  a  trivial  sum  on  account  of  supposed  poor 
title,  though  it  was  finally  held  good.  (See  Wen- 
dall  Common  Law  reports  N.  Y.  p.  82,  vol.  7.) 

A  recital  of  the  case,  drawn  up  in  French  *  in 
1805  by  Louis  Paul  d'Autremont,  then  in  Paris, 
is  still  in  existence.* 

Their  situation  from  the  first  was  not  a  pleasant 
one,  and   it  was   not  long  before  Mrae.  d'Autre- 


[Original  in  French  ] 

♦Recital  of  the  case  which  is  to  be  begun  against  William  VV.  Morris  to  re- 
claim 6,000  acres  of  land  or  thereabouts  situated  on  the  Chenango  River, 
Montgomery  Co.,  New  York. 

M.  Charles  Felix  De  Boulogne  sold  at  Paris  in  1792  lands  under  two  differ- 
ent titles. 

1st  under  power  of  attorney  of  M.  M.  Malachi  Treat  and  William  M.  Mor- 
ris, proprietors  of  a  certain  quantity  of  lands  upon  the  Chenango  River, 

to  Madame  d'Autremont  &  to  W.  Brevost, 

2nd  as  proprietors  of  a  part  of  these  same  lands  which  he  had 
purchased  from  said  Treat  and  Morris  the 

16th  of  June,  1791        Contract  passed  before  Wagner 

to  M.Duvernet  1600    Notary  Tublic  at  New  York 

Bourneville         800    in  presence  of  James  Thompson, 

Silvestre  1600    Constable. 

Marguerite  800 

At  the  time  of  the  arrival  of  a  part  of  the  families  in  Philadelphia  in  1792 
the  act  of  sale  as  well  as  fonde  of  powvoir  of  Messrs.  Treat  &  Morris  was 
made  by  Boulogne  to  Madame  d'Autremont, Lefevre  and  Brevost  before  Pet- 
er Lohra.  notary  at  Philadelphia,  in  the  he^^iiining  of  September,  1792. 

As  to  the  articles  of  sale  which  regarded  y\.  Duvernet  and  others,  co- 
aquerems,  it  does  not  appear  that  they  were  made  before  a  Notary  before 
the  7th  of  December,  17!i4,  and  always  before  the  aforesaid  Peter  Lohra, 
Notary  at  Philadelphia.  M.  Duvernet  declares  that  the  articles  were  placed 
in  the  bank  of  Philadelphia  near  the  close  of  1794.  It  is  probable  that  this 
delay  took  place  in  order  that  the  stipulation  of  lands  might  be  made  in  a 
lirecise  manner,  and  when  the  suivey  which  was  made  the  following  year 
should  have  been  finished.  The  2Ith  of  September,  1792,  we  find  a  copy  of 
the  articles  of  sale  of  1.5360  acres  made  to  Boulogne  by  M.  M.  Morris  &  Treat, 
that  is  to  say  that  M.  ."M.  Treat  and  Morris  comprehended  in  a  single  article 
of  sale  not  only  the  6000  acres  of  land  which  they  had  sold  in  1791,  but  also 
the  9360  which  they  had  directed  Boulogne  to  sell  in  France.  The  articles  of 
Bale  realized  upon  oiu-  passage  to  New  York,  when  we  went  to  take  possess- 
ion of  our  lands  included  a  definite  quittance  of  the  total  price  of 
the  sale.  We  ought  then  to  believe  ourselves  secure  from  all  pursuit  grow- 
ing out  of  the  facts  of  the  first  sale  to  Boulogne.  Nevertheless  upon  the 
death  of  the  latter,  which  took  place  in  1795,  or  1796,  upon  the  Susquehanna, 
M.  Morris  swore  that  he  had  never  received  anything  from  the  sale  of  his 
lands  (illegible  wordi  all  the  purchasers  who  had  bought  by  virtue  of  the 
powers  given  by  himself  and  Treat  to  Boulogne,  as  well  as  the  purchasers 
who  had  bouglit  diiTi'tly  of  T5oulogne.  These  same  purchasers  by  separat- 
ing the  titles  above  mentioned,  that  is  to  say 
M.  Duvernet     | 

Silvestre 

Marguerite 

Bourneville    | 
demand  that  measures  should  be  taken  in  order  that  they  may  enter  into 
possession  of  their  lauds,  which  have  to 'day  a  great  value,  being  situated  in 
a  rich,  healthy  and  inhabited  country.   '  d'AUTREMONT. 

—87— 


Members  of  the  institute. 


mont  decided  to  join  her  countrymen  at  Asylum, 
as  did  the  Brevosts  and  Lefevres. 

In  1795,  when  Talleyrand  visited  Asylum, 
Louis  Paul  d'Autremont  returned  with  him  to 
France  as  his  secretary,  it  is  said. 

d'Autremont  remained  in  France  until  his  death 
in  the  forties,  with  the  exception  of  a  visit  to 
America  in  1836.  He  married  in  Paris  and  had 
one  child,  a  daughter.  He  was  a  man  of  consid- 
erable ability,  an  ardent  speculator  in  wild  lands 
in  America,  whither  his  heart  ever  turned  with 
as  much  love  and  longing  for  his  family,  and  as 
much  admiration  for  America  (even  the  wilder- 
ness) as  the  French  generally  had  for  their  own 
country.  His  letters  to  his  mother,  many  of 
which  are  still  in  existence,  are  marvels  of  love 
and  veneration,  and  his  solicitude  for  her  welfare 
and  that  of  his  brothers,  stands  apparently  first 
in  his  mind.  He  made  repeated  efforts  to  secure 
for  them  a  comfortable  estate,  which  for  some 
time  he  also  fancied  might  be  an  asylum  for  him- 
self. The  affairs  of  France  led  him  to  American- 
ize his  name  into  Dauthrimonth,  as  he  writes: 

"  I  must  tell  you  that  in  order  to  avoid  anything  disagreeable 
I  pass  for  a  Canadian,  here,  have  been  naturalized  as  an  Ameri- 
can, and  have  changed  a  little  the  architecture  of  my  name." 

After  the  true  French  fashion  he  tried  to  ar- 
range marriages  for  his  brothers,  even  at  such  a 
distance.  At  one  time  it  was  a  family  going  from 
France  to  the  Chenango  lands  with  whom  he 
hoped  Auguste  would  make  an  alliance,  again  a 
young  daughter  of  Madame  Brevost,  whom  he 
knew  at  Ayslum,  adding, 


"  If  she  suits  him,  and,  if  on  his  side  he  pleases  her,  I  think 
good  mama,  the  affair  had  better  be  terminated.  Marriage  will 
do  a  great  deal  for  Auguste,  he  is  a  fine  looking  boy,  young  and 
vivacious,  and  that  is  all  that  is  necessary  to  be  a  good  husband 
and  father.'" 

A^ain  he  writes: 

"  The  affairs  of  Europe  are  becoming  such,  that  if  we  had  the 
misfortune  to  be  defeated,  there  would  be  no  other  resource  than 
to  return  again  to  those  vast  forests  where  one  hears  the  Iro- 
quois." 

When  Talon  left  Asylum,  or  a  little  later  Mme. 
d'Autremont  and  her  two  sons  returned  to  the 
Chenango  tract,  and  lived  on  Butternut  Creek 
near  Pittsfield.  Here  they  lived  until  1806,  when 
by  the  advice,  and  with  the  assistance  of  her  son 
in  Paris,  she  or  Alexander  purchased  land  at  An- 
gelica, N.  Y.,  where  they  lived  and  died,  and 
where  some  of  their  descendants  have  lived  ever 
since. 

Previous  to  this  last  removal,  Alexander,  des- 
perate at  their  failure  to  obtain  title  to  Chenango 
land,  followed  the  treacherous  Boulogne  to  the 
West  Indies,  hoping  to  compel  him  to  make  resti- 
tution. Ill  luck,  however,  pursued  him,  the  ves- 
sel was  shipwrecked,  he  reached  land  with  diffi- 
culty, being  impeded  with  the  weight  of  a  money 
belt  belonging  to  a  fellow  passenger.  He  then 
had  yellow  fever  and  was  very  glad  to  return 
alive,  without  even  seeing  Boulogne. 

With  the  advice  and  constant  assistance  of 
Louis  Paul,  he  engaged  in  farming  and  became 
prosperous,  as  did  also  his  brother  Auguste, 
though  Auguste  had  for  awhile  a  great  desire 
either  to  return  to  France  or  to  be  a  sailor.  How- 


ever,  he  went  to  Wilmington  and  entered  into 
business  under  the  Duponts.  He  remained  in 
Delaware  for  several  years,  removing  thence  to 
Hume,  N.  Y. 

Both  of  these  men,  as  well  as  their  mother, 
desired  to  return  to  France  as  much  as  Louis 
Paul  did  to  America.  But  in  time,  doubtless 
influenced  by  their  brothers'  letters  they  resigned 
themselves  to  remaining  here,  though  Augusta 
once  paid  a  visit  to  his  mother  country.  We  re- 
gret that  we  cannot  give  space  to  all  of  the  fas- 
cinating letters  of  Louis  Paul,  teeming  always 
with  good  advice  to  the  younger  brothers,  and 
sometimes  showing  an  amusing  ignorance  of 
Yankee  ways. 

Alexander  had  no  sooner  settled  permanently 
than  he  wished  to  build  a  distillery  for  the  manu- 
facture of  whiskey.  Louis  Paul  thought  a  saw 
mill,  flour  mill  or  the  manufacture  of  saltpeter 
wiser,  and  seemed  to  be  somewhat  concerned 
about  "wiske"  drinking.     He  writes: 

"Above  all,  dear  mama,  see  that  Alexander  does  not  make 
ijse  of  wiske  the  first  year.  I  am  told  that  the  use  of  this 
newly  distilled  liquor  will  give  one  epileptic  attacks." 

Mme.  d'Autremont  was  probably  born  at 
Etampe,  as  the  d'Ohet  estate  is  situated  there. 
She  possessed  a  house  at  Dampiere,  which  may 
have  been  where  she  resided  with  her   husband. 

Like  a  true  French  woman  she  was  very  fond 
of  dress,  and,  even  in  her  log  house  in  the  wilder- 
ness, she  made  her  toilette  several  times  a  day, 
always  donning  full  dress  in  the  evening. 

She  preserved  many  interesting  letters,  papers 
—90— 


and  some  portraits,  most  of  which  were  destroy- 
ed by  fire  only  20  or  30  years  ago.  There  still  ex- 
ist, however,  numerous  letters  from  her  son  and 
his  wife,  her  father's  will,  a  list  of  the  articles  she 
brought  from  France,  and  her  carefully  itemized 
personal  accounts.  Most  of  these  papers  are  now 
in  the  possession  of  a  daughter  of  Auguste,  resid- 
ing at  Hume,  N.  Y.,  where  he  lived  and  died. 
Though  Louis  Paul  was  a  resident  of  Asylum  for 
but  a  short  time,  that  he  was  actively  concerned 
in  affairs  of  the  colony  is  shown  by  various  pa- 
pers bearing  his  bold  signature.  Judge  Stevens 
says  : 

"He  could  speak  the  English  language,  and  was  amongst  the 
handsomest  and  most  active  men  of  iis  time." 

We  regret  that  his  portrait  was  destroyed  and 
that  we  can  only  present  those  of  his  brothers. 

I.     Hubert    d'Autremont,    m.    Feb.    3,    1770, 
Marie  Jeane  d'Ohet,   b.  1745. 
Children,  born   in  France: 

2  Louis  Paul,  b.  Nov.  7,  1770,  d.  184-  in  Paris, 
no  male  issue. 

3  Alexandre  Hubert,   b.  March   12,   1776,    d. 
April  4,  1857. 

4  Auguste  Francois  Cecil,  b.  June  7,  1783,   d. 
Jan.  28,  1860. 

III.     Alexander 2  H,  m.    1798  Abigail   Dodge, 
dau.  Maj.  Dodge. 
Children : 

5  Adeline,  b.  July  12,  1800. 

6  Amelia  D.,   b.  April   28,  1803,    d.  Jan.    13, 
1876. 

—91— 


7  Louis  P.,  b.  Jan.  28,  1805. 

8  Victor  D.,  b.  Aug.  16,  1807. 

9  Caroline,  b.  Dec.  8,  1809. 

10  Ja7iet,  b.  Nov.  30,  1814. 

11  Charles,  b.  June  26,  1818,  d.  March  3,  1891. 

12  Alexander,  b.  April  2,  1821. 

13  Virginia,  b.  July  30,  1821. 

14  Sophia,  b.  Aug.  3,  1829,  d.  Oct.  17,  1894. 
V.     Adeline^  d'Autremont,    m.    1826  Ithamar 

Smith  of  Lyme,  Conn. 
Children : 

15  Janet,  b.  Feb.  9,  1827. 

16  Emily,  b.  Sept.  15,  1828. 

17  Amanda  A.,  b.  July  26,  1830. 

18  John  C,  b.  Nov.  3,  1833. 

19  Alexander  D.,  b.  Dec.  25.  1835. 

20  Harriet  A.,  b.  Jan.  10,  1837. 

21  Caroline  B.,  b.  Oct.  2,  1839. 

22  Abigail  D.,  b.  Oct.  4,  1831,  m.  Jan.  5,  1882, 
Dr.  Randall  Eeed. 

XV.  Janef^  Smith,    m.  Charles  Horton. 
Children. 

23  Elizabeth  Amelia. 

24  Charles  Frederick. 

XVII.  Amanda*    A.    Smith,    m.     Llewellyn 
Budd,  m.  James  Lancy. 

XVIII.  John^    C.    Smith,     m.    Rebecca   Van 
Hoasen,  no  issue  ;  m.  1860  Emma  F.   Lock  wood. 

Child: 

25  John. 

XX.     Harriet  *  A.  Smith,  m.    July  15,    1876, 
Isaac  W.  Fassett. 
Child: 
28    Frederick,  b.  Feb.  9,  1879. 

—92— 


XXI.     Caroline*  B.  Smith,  m.  Augustus   Bal- 
thasar. 
Children: 

29  Frederica. 

30  Harriet  A. 

31  Charles  A. 

VI.  Amelia^  D.  d'Autremont,  ra,  Hugh  Magee. 
Children : 

32  Margaret. 

33  John. 

34  Henry. 

35  Sarah. 

36  Amelia. 

37  Abigail. 

38  Jane. 

39  Angelica  Church*,  m.  Daniel  Beach. 

VII.  Louis^  P.  d'Autremont,  m.  Oct.  12, 1826, 
Hannah  Magee. 

Children: 

40  Abigail  A.,  b.  Dec.  24,  1827,  d.  1899. 

41  James  P.,  b.  Oct.  10,  1830,  d.  Oct.   1895. 

42  Margaret  C,  b.  July  1,  1833. 

43  Mary  C,  b.  Aug.  8,  1835. 

44  Louis  A.,  b.  March  2,  1838. 

45  Hannah,  b.  May  23,  1840,  d.  July  27,  1842. 

46  Victor  B.,  b.  April   23,   1843,    d.  March   9, 
1878. 

47  Charles  J.,  b.  March  28,  1845. 

48  Francis,  b.  Aug.  24,  1849. 

VIII.  Victo?^^  D.  d'Autremont,    m.    Isabella 
Common. 

Children : 

49  Victor. 

—93— 


50  Sophia. 

51  John. 

52  Abigail. 

53  Belle. 

IX.     Caroline^,  m.  Charles  Brundage. 
Descendants  live  near  Bath,   N,  Y.     Have  no 
further  information. 
X     Janet^    d'Autremont,  m.    Ephraim  Smith. 
Descendants  hve  at  Wellsville,  N.  Y. 

XI.  Charles^    d'Autremont,     m.    1850   Sarah 
Colhns,  b.  Nov.  19,  1822. 

Children : 

54  Charles  Jr.,  b.  June  2,  1851,  living  at   Du- 
luth,  Minn. 

55  Mary,  b.  Oct.  16,  1854. 

XIV.     Charles^  d'Autremont,  Jr.,  m.  April  21, 
1880  at  Elmira,  Hattie  Hart. 
Children: 

56  Antoinette,  b.  July  10,  1881. 

57  Louis  Paul,  b.  Aug.  23,  1883. 

58  Charles  Maurice,  b.  Aug.  6,  1887. 

59  Hubert  Hart,  b.  Feb.  19,  1889. 

60  Marie  Genevieve,  b.  March  9,  1892. 

XII.  Alexander^    d'Autremont,      m.      Diana 
Howard.     Descendants  live  near  Angelica,  N.  Y. 

XIV.     Sophia^   C.   d'Autremont,   m.   Feb.    6, 
1849,  Lucien  P.  Wetherby. 
Children: 

61  John  K.,  b.  May  15,  1851. 

62  Harris  V.,  b.  Jan.  18,  1857. 

63  Clarence  L,  b.  March  17,  1861,  d.  1879. 
IV.     Auguste^  Francois  Cecil,  b.  June  7,  1785 

in  Paris,   d.  Jan.    28,  1860,    m.  at  Brandywine, 

—94— 


Del.,  July  15,  1816,  Sarah  A.  Stewart,   b.  Sept. 
10,  1794,  d.  Sept.  4.  1840. 
Children : 

54  Matilda,  b.  June  1,  1817,  d.  Dec.    31,   1884. 

55  Josephine,  b.  Jan.  31,  1820,  d.  May  7,  1901. 

56  Augustus  Jr.,  b.  Feb.  29,  1822,  d.  March  29, 
1889. 

57  Mary  H.,  b.  July  27,  1824,  d.   July  8,  1836. 

58  Fancois  P.,  d.  Sept.  12,  1847,  in  Mexico. 

59  Caroline  E.,  b.  April  27,  1827,  d.  June  29, 
1877. 

60  Victorine,  b.  June  7,  1830,  d.  July  24,  1836. 

61  Evelina  E.,  b.  April  17,  1833. 

62  Andrine  Sarah,  )  b.  Dec.  16,  1835. 

63  Clodine,  j  d.  July  18,  1836. 

LV.     Josephine^,  m.  Oct.    15,  1846,  Harden  P. 
Mather. 
Children: 

64  Charles  Augustus,  b.  Sept.  29,  1847. 
66     Walter  D.,  b.  Jan.  29,  1851. 

66  Iheodore  P.,  b.  Aug.  3,  1853. 

LVI.     Augustus^  Jr.,  m.  Feb.  14,  1854,  Adeline 
Mather,  m.  Jan.  4,  1863,  Mary  A.  Hubbard. 
Children  by  Adeline  Mather: 

67  Frank,  b.  July  11,  1855,  d.  March  11,  1873. 

68  George  W.,  b.  Nov.  3,  1856. 

69  Julia  E.,  b.  April  3,  1859. 
70.     Lucian,  b.  March  12,   1861. 
Children  by  Mary  A.  Hubbard: 

71  Addie,  b.  July  2,  1864,  d.  Sept.  25,  1889. 

72  Carrie,  b.  July  2,  1870. 

LIX.     Caroline^,  m.  June  22,  1858,  Ralph  Tay- 
lor. 

—95- 


Children : 

73     Mary  A,  b.  Jan.  29,  18—. 

H    Carrie  E.,  b.  Nov.  29,  1862,  d. 

75  Alfred,  b.  July  6,  1869. 

LXII.     Andrine^  S.,  m.  April  19,  1869,   S.   A. 
Farman. 
Child: 

76  Henry,  b.  April  26,  1871. 

LXXIII.     Mary  *  A.  Taylor,  m.  Nov.  10, 1878, 
Frank  Clark. 
Child: 

77  Ada. 

LXXV.     Alfred  Taylor,  m. 
Children: 
78 
79 

64     Charles'^  A.  Mather,  m.  Dec.  18,  1882,  Car- 
rie Corbin. 
Children: 

80  Henry. 

81  Josephine. 

LXV.     Walter^   D.  Mather,  m.  Nov.  28,  1876, 
Sarah  Moore,  d.,  no  children;  m.  Emma. 
Children: 

82  Charles. 

83  Ralph. 

LXVn.     Theodore^  P.Mather,  m.  Nov. 23, 1879, 
Mary  Beardslee. 
Children: 

84  Charles. 

85  Elizabeth. 

LXVIII.     George^   W.  d'Autremont,  m.  1878, 
M.  Ayers,  m.  1894,  Jennie  Skiff. 

—96— 


Child  by  M.  Ayers: 

86  Charles,  b.  Oct.  21,  1880,  d.  June  19,    1891. 
Child  by  J.  Skiff  : 

87  Georgie  O.,  b.  Aug.  5,  1900. 

LXIX    Julia  E.^  d'Autremont,   m.  Aug.   31, 
18Y8,  Will  Colburn,  ni.  Fred  Stone. 
Children  by  Will  Colburn: 

88  Gracie,  b.  Oct.  31,  1879,  m.  James  Wallace. 

89  Ray. 

Child  by  Fred  Stone: 

90  Meta  V.,  b.  Feb.  14,  1902. 

LXX.     Lucian^  d'Autremont,  m.  Sept.  4,  1888, 
Lizzie  Clark. 
Children : 

91  Roy  A.,  b.  May  24,  1889. 

92  Louis  F.,  b.  July  22,  1891. 

93  Addison  M.,  b.  May  4,  1895. 

94  Mildred,  b.  Aug.  31,  1899. 

LXXII.     Carrie*,    m.    Sept.  4,    1888,   George 
Clark. 
Child: 

95  Henry,  b.  Feb.  2,  1891. 


-97— 


Lefev 


re. 


Antoine  Bartolemy  L  Lefevre  was  born  in 
Paris  1750,  His  wife  was  Marie  Genevieve 
d'Ohet,  born  in  1750,  probably  at  Etampes,  a 
suburb  of  Paris,  as  the  d'Ohet  family  still  have  an 
estate  there.  Antoine,  or  Anthony  as  he  is  now 
known,  was  an  architect  in  stone  and  master 
builder.  He  was  also  proprietor  of  a  cafe,  to 
which  many  prominent  royalists  resorted  in  the 
early  days  of  the  French  Revolution.  He  there- 
fore soon  fell  under  suspicion  and  thought  it  wise 
to  leave  Prance.  In  company  with  Mme.  d'Au- 
tremont,  (his  wife's  sister)  John  Brevost,  M.  Du- 
long  and  some  others  in  1792  he  sailed  from  Havre 
in  the  ship  Hanna,  Captain  Steborn.  He  had  four 
children,  (disputed)  but  under  regulations  then 
in  force  he  could  only  take  part  of  his  family 
with  him,  therefore  passports  were  made  out  for 
one  son  and  one  daughter.  Before  the  vessel 
sailed  the  son  died,  whereupon  the  youngest 
daughter,  disguised  in  her  brother's  clothing,  was 
passed  under  his  name,  and  accompanied  her 
father  ;  the  wife  and  son  following  them  soon. 

This  party  settled  on  the  Chenango  River  at  or 
near  Butternuts.  But  their  surroundings  were 
not  pleasant,  far  from  supplies  and  with  Indians 
very  near.  To  fill  the  measure  of  their  troubles  the 
title  by  which  they  held  their  land  proved  worth- 
less. They  determined  to  join  their  countrymen 
at  Asylum,  and  removed  thither  in  1794.  M.  Le- 
fevre secured  one  of  the  Loyal  Sock  tracts,  just 
where  cannot  be  ascertained,   but  his  daughter 

—98— 


-.^-:-lJ-.vvJxV^.■ 


"'t^aHUj^m' SLjjk    ,'^<i»4Wi 


said  it  was  in  an  unbroken  wilderness,  inhabited 
chiefly  by  bears  and  wolves.  There  in  a  log  hut 
without  windows  or  doors,  guarded  by  two  dogs, 
this  whilom  keeper  of  a  fashionable  French  cafe 
undertook  to  make  a  clearing  himself,  and  thus 
secure  a  farm  and  livelihood  for  his  family.  It  is 
not  surprising  that  even  French  enthusiasm  soon 
cooled  under  such  circumstances,  and  that  the  pio- 
neer returned  to  the  settlement  It  has  been 
erroneously  said  of  him  that  he  was  licensed  to 
keep  the  first  inn  in  Asylum  in  August,  1794. 
Judge  Stevens  says  this  "first  license  was  grant- 
ed to  Louis  Lefevre,  who  afterwards  removed  to 
Philadelphia,  became  insane  and  drowned  himself 
in  the  Schuylkill  river."  These  two  names, 
Antoine  and  Louis,  are  found  in  the  Lists  of  taxa- 
bles  with  different  spelling  of  the  surnames,  and 
in  one  of  the  old  accounts  kept  by  Talon  "Le- 
fevre" is  entered  as  a  servant.  Antoine  must  have 
been  a  man  of  education  as  is  shown  by  his  fine 
penmanship.  After  Asylum  was  abandoned,  he 
purchased  a  property  across  the  river  from  it, 
where  he  lived  with  his  family  throughout  his 
life.  He  and  his  wife  are  buried  in  the  cemetery 
at  Wyalusing. 

The  will  of  Anthony  Lefevre,  written  by  him- 
self in  1827,  is  an  interesting  instrument.  In 
particular  the  list  of  articles  brought  from  France, 
i.  e.,  "four  large  silver  spoons,  six  small  ones,  one 
complete  copper  still,  with  all  its  implements, 
three  copper  pans,  one  large  copper  pan  with  two 
iron  handles,  a  bureau  with  a  marble  top,  two 
complete  beds  and  beddings  of  the  best  and  one 

—99— 


pair  of  sheets  brought  from  Paris  in  France." 
One  of  these  copper  pans  was  offered  to  the  writer 
a  few  years  since  by  Mr.  Lewis  Biles,  who  gave 
at  the  same  time  a  copper  candlestick  (now  in 
museum  at  Athens)  which  he  had  bought  at  sale 
of  effects  of  Mrs.  John  Huff,  nee  Lefevie,  and 
which  she  had  often  told  him  came  from  France. 

I.     Antoine  B.  L.  Lefevre  m.  Marie  G.  d'Ohet, 
b.  1750,  d.  1834. 
Childen: 

2  Alexander,  b.  d.  1814. 

3  Cecelia  A.,  b.  May  13,  1785,  d.  May  8,  1876. 

4  Augustine  E,  b.  July,  1787,  m.  1811  J.  Huff, 
d.  May  16,  1879. 

III.  Cecelia^  A.,  m,  1815  John  Antoine  Pre- 
vost. 

Children: 

4  Edward,  b.  Dec.  1,  1817,  d.  Feb.  22,  1900. 

5  Angelique  M,  b.  Oct.  16,  1819. 

6  Theophilus,  b.  1824,  d.  1882. 

John  Antoine  Prevost,  husband  of  Cecelia  Le- 
fevre, was  born  in  Paris  Sept.  23,  1777,  d.  April 
30,  1868.  In  May,  1800,  he  sailed  from  Rochelle 
for  America.  Several  years  later  he  made  the 
acquaintance  of  Alexander  d'Autremont,  and 
was  induced  by  him  to  visit  Asylum,  where  he 
met  and  married  his  wife.  He  is  often  confound- 
ed with  John  Brevost,  one  of  the  original  settlers 
at  Asylum.  M.  Prevost  (according  to  some  of 
his  descendants)  sailed  from  Havre,  having  staged 
from  Paris,  420  miles.  He  was  seventy  days  at 
sea,  he  could  not  speak  English  and  was  easily 

—100— 


persuaded  to  settle  at  Nantucket,  the  home  of 
the  captain  of  saihng  vessel,  where  he  remained 
four  years.  Having  learned  the  language,  he 
then  went  to  Wilmington,  having  letters  to  the 
Duponts.  Through  their  influence  he  removed 
to  Angelica,  where  he  met  the  d'Autremouts. 
After  his  marriage  he  lived  for  a  time  in  Phila- 
delphia, hut  returned  to  Russell  Hill  in  1825.  In 
Paris  he  was  a  florist,  and  he  never  lost  his  taste 
for  cultivating  rare  and  beautiful  plants,  which 
were  the  wonder  and  admiration  of  his  country- 
neighbors. 

IV.     Edward^  Prevost,  m.  Sept.  28,  1842,  Eliz- 
abeth Stark, 
Children: 

7  Cecelia,  b.  Dec.  7,  1843. 

8  Byron  J,  b.  Dec.  31,  1845,  d.  May  27,   1863. 

9  Henry  Clay,  b.  Sept.  10,  1847. 

10  Wallace  William,  b.  Feb   10,  1850. 

11  Mary  E.,  b.  Oct.  15,  1852,  d.  July   2,  1886. 

12  Vernet  E.,  |  b.  Jan.  3,  1857.   d.   Sept.    10, 

13  Victor    J.,  I  1889. 

15  Lester  S..  b.  Dec.  13,  1863. 

14  Angelique  F.,  b.  Nov.  26,  1861,   m.   March 
19,  1887,  Dexter  W.  Stark. 

16  Clarence  W.,  b.  Jan.  30,  1866,  m.  Nov.  24, 
1901,  Sue  Tisch. 

VII.     Cecelia^,   m.    Dec.    6,    1871,    Daniel   H. 
Walter. 
Children: 

17  Carrie  E.,  b.  March  23,  1873. 

18  Mildred  A.,  b.  March  23,   1877. 

—101— 


19  Otta  F.,  b.  May  8,  1880,  m.  July  31,    1901, 
Frank  French. 

20  Eoy  P.,  b.  Dec.  1,  1882. 

XVII.     Carrie  E.,^  m.  Nov.  6,    189.5,  Charles 
Eobinson. 
Children: 

21  Mildred,  b.  Sept.  23,  1896. 

22  Roland,  b.  Aug.  6,  1902. 

IX.     Henry   C.,^   m.    Dec.    9,    1877,    Ida     M. 
Young. 
Children: 

23  Dexter  C,  b.  Sept.   23,   1878,    m.   May   23, 
1902,  EHzabeth  Wilbur. 

24  Harry  E.,  b.  June  3,  1881. 

25  Tracy  H.,  b.  Aug.  25,  1883. 

XI.     MaryE.^,  m.   Dec.  3,   1876,  Dexter  W. 
Stark. 
Children: 

26  Lee  P.,  b.  May  11,  1882. 

27  Fannie  E.,  b.  Jan.  2,  1885. 

XIII.     Victor  /.,4    m.    Jan.    29,    1885,    Carrie 
Haver. 
Children : 

28  Edna  E.,  b.  Aug.  20,  1885. 

29  Mary  E.,  b.  July  21,  1887. 

30  Victor  E.,  b.  July  20,  1895. 

31  Winifred,  b.  Dec.  24,  1900. 

XV.     Lester^  S.,  m.  Oct.  2,  1889,  Ida  Savacol. 
Children: 

32  Blanche,  b.  April  9,  1891. 

33  Angehque,  b.  May  2,  1892. 

34  Edward,  b.  March  23,  1894. 

—102— 


V.     Angelique^  M.,  m.  Jan.  18,  1842,    William 
Mix. 
Children : 

35  John  W.,  b.  Dec.  16,  1842,  m.  Dec.  18,  1867, 
Belle  Spalding. 

36  Mary  E.,  b.  Aug.  26,  1845. 

XXXVI.     Mary  E.,''  m.  Oct.  16,  1872,  Mahlon 
Spalding. 
Child: 

37  William  M.,  b.  Feb.  15,    1876. 


—103— 


Laporte. 


Bartholomew  Laporte  was  born  in  Tulle,  now 
in  the  province  of  Correze  in  France  1758. 

"In  1776  he  emigrated  to  Spain  and  settled  at  Cadiz,  where 
through  the  same  spirit  of  enterprise  that  led  him  thither,  he 
in  the  space  of  a  few  years,  as  a  wine  merchant,  accumulated  a 
handsome  fortune.  But,  by  a  decree  of  the  Spanish  Govern- 
ment, banishing  from  within  its  limits  all  French  subjects,  and 
confiscating  their  property,  his  effects  among  others  were  seized 
and  himself  banished  from  the  country." 

At  a  French  seaport,  supposed  to  be  Marseilles, 
he  encountered  Talon,  as  has  already  been  told, 
and  came  with  him  to  Asylum,  though  he  differ- 
ed in  political  sentiment  from  the  other  exiles, 
being  a  republican.  In  company  with  one 
Hei'aud,  it  is  recorded  that  he  was  engaged  in  the 
mercantile  business  as  early  as  May,  1794.  To  his 
shop  some  time  after  came  an  English  girl,  Eliza- 
beth Franklin,  daughter  of  John  Franklin,  {7iot 
Col.  John)  who  had  settled  at  Asylum  soon  after 
his  arrival  in  this  country.  Laporte  was  so 
enamored  that  he  sought  her  in  marriage,  though 
over  twenty  years  her  senior.  They  were  mar- 
ried at  Asylum,  presumably  in  the  little  log 
chapel. 

Always  the  trusted  land  steward  of  Talon,  when 
the  French  abandoned  Asylum  Laporte  purchased 
a  large  tract  of  land,  including  Talon's  house,  on 
his  own  terms.  His  son  John  said  of  him  : 
"  Talon  put  him  in  charge  of  much  of  the  work, 
he  was  in  fact  relied  on  by  Talon  as  one  to  attend 
to  all  outside  work,  and  when  Talon  returned  to 

—104— 


France,  he  sold  to  my  father  on  his  own  terms 
the  farm  of  400  acres  which  he  paid  for  by  in- 
stallments." 

Bartholemew  is  said  to  have  owned  three  lots, 
1.  e.,  a  settlement  lot,  a  flatiron  lot,  so  called,  and 
the  lot  on  which  the  house  stood ;  he  was  also 
agent  for  the  unsold  lands  and  was  granted  power 
of  attorney  by  the  Trustees  of  the  Asylum  Com- 
pany to  lease  any  of  the  French  holdings  for  one 
year.  He  maintained  a  store  in  his  house  until 
near  the  time  of  his  death.  He  was  visited  at 
Asylum  by  his  brother  John,  a  sailor,  who  has 
been  sometimes  confounded  with  him  At  Bar- 
tholemew's  death  a  friend  wrote  of  him  in  the 
National  Intelligencer  (Washington): 

"  The  writer  was  frequently  the  recipient  of  his  well-known 
hospitality,  and  the  auditor  of  his  social  amd  animated  conver- 
sation, in  short,  intimately  acquainted  with  him  and  his  many 
amiable  traits  of  character.  He  had  one  son,  John,  whom  be- 
fore his  death,  the  Father  had  the  proud  satisfaction  of  seeing 
elected  and  re-elected  to  a  seat  in  the  highest  and  most  digni- 
fied deliberative  body  in  the  United  States  or  the  world — the 
Congress  of  the  United  States." 

John  La  Porte  was  elected  auditor  in  1822, 
served  in  state  legislature  five  years,  being  speak- 
er of  the  house  one  year.  After  two  terms  in 
congress  he  was  appointed  associate  judge  in 
1840,  and  surveyor-fi:eneral  of  the  state  in  1845. 
In  1839  he  built  the  large  stone  house  still  stand- 
ing just  south  of  the  house  of  Talon.  Though 
this  propei'tv  has  passed  out  of  the  family,  some 
of  his  descendants  still  live  on  the  site  of  the 
French  town.  Bartholemew  Sr.  and  his  wife  and 
son  are  buried  in  a  little  family  plot  plainly  visible 
—105— 


from  the  river,  on  a  slight  elevation  back  of  the 
old  home.  There  are  in  the  family  to-day  articles 
of  wearing  apparel  brought  by  him  from  Cadiz. 
The  county  seat  of  Sullivan  county  is  named 
Laporte,  after  Judge  John  Laporte  ;  it  is  not  far 
from  Dushore. 


I.  Bartholemetv  Laporte,  born  in  France  1758, 
d.  Feb.  11,  1836,  m.  Dec.  11,  1797,  Elizabeth 
Franklin,  (born  in  England). 

Child: 

II.  John,  b.  Nov.  4,  1798,  d.  Aug.  22,  1862, 
m.  Feb.  28,  1822,  Matilda,  daughter  Jabez  Cham- 
berlain, and  Irene  Gilbert,  d.  Aug.  5,  1838;  m. 
Nov.  28,  1840,  Ehza  Bendle  (second  v^ife). 

Child: 

Matilda  Jane,  b.  Oct.  24,  1841,  m  . .,  d  . .,  1871. 

Children  by  Matilda  Chamberlain  : 

3  Bartholemew,  b.  Jan.  5,  1823,  d.  Sept.  15, 
1889. 

4  Elizabeth,  b.  Nov.  24,  1825,  d.  Jan.  25,  1885. 

5  Samuel  McKean,  b.  Feb.  25,  1832,  d.  April 
14,  1896. 

III.  Bartholemew,  ^  m.  July  31,  1835,  Emily 
Terry. 

Children  : 

6  George  B.,  b.  Feb.  14,  1846. 

7  John  W..  b.  July  25,  1856,   d.  Feb.  6,  1886. 

8  Nancy  M.,  b.  May  14,  1859,  d.  Feb.  IS,  1896. 

—106— 


VI.     George*  B.,    m.  Jan.   17,   1777,  Amanda 
Piatt. 
Children  : 

9  Emily  G.,  b.  Nov.  25,  1877,   m.  Oct.  2,  1901, 
J.  G.  Kerrick. 

10  Nellie  M.,  b.  Sept.  14,  1879. 

11  Edith  J.,  b.  Oct.  24,  1881,  d.  July  23,  1898. 
VIII.     Nancy "^  M.,  m.  28,  1889,  Sidney  Bo ving- 

doo. 

Children  : 

12  John  Laporte,  b.  June  29,  1890. 

13  George  Terry,  b.  Jan.  23,  1893. 

14  Paul  B.,  b.  March  20,  1894. 
15.     Nancy  E.,  b.  Jan.  23,  1896. 

IV.     Elizabeth^,  m.  at   Asylum,  Nov.  27,  1843, 
Charles  F.  Welles. 
Children  : 

16  Frederick  Laporte. 

17  Eleanor  H. 

18  John  C. 

19  Louise  S.,  m.  Millard  P.  Murray. 

20  Robert  H.,  d.  Feb.  12,  1903. 

21  Elizabeth  Franklin. 

22  Henry  Fuller,  d. 

23  Mary,  d.  April,  1868. 

24  Jessie. 
Grand-children  : 

25  Katherine  Louise. 

26  George  T. 

27  Andrew  T. 

28  Gilberts. 

29  Jessie  Welles  Murray. 

—107— 


30  Elsie  Murray. 

31  Louise  Elizabeth  Murray. 

V     S.   McKean^,  m.  Sept.  1864,  Sarah  Wright 
Corey. 
Children  : 

32  Samuel  McK.,   b.  Sept.  27,  1865,  m.   1896, 
Addie  Hubbell. 

33  Eliza,  b.  Jan.  10,  1869. 

34  William  C,  b.  April  14,  1871,  m.   Feb.  17, 
1897,  Maud  Heimhch. 

XXXIII    Eliza'^,  m.  April  4,  1886,  F.  A.  Buck- 
bee;  m.  April  27,  1901,  J.  C.  St.  John. 
Children  by  Mr.  Buckbee  : 

35  Raymond,  b.  Feb.  7,  1888,  d.  July  12,  1895. 

36  Alta  May,  b.  Aug.  31,  1889. 

37  William' McK.,  b.  July  10,  1894. 


-108- 


Hornet. 

/'^  9        /f     ^J^         J-      ^^^  born  in  Paris 
w-'^CUlife     J\j(P*^^         ^^^  1769.     He  was 

said  to  have  been 
a  steward  in  the 
household  of 
Louis  XVI,  therefore,  being  in  sympathy  with 
the  royalists  he  feit  it  safer  to  flee  from  France. 
On  his  arrival  at  the  Bay  of  Biscay,  he  found  the 
vessel  on  which  he  had  engaged  passage  had  al- 
ready sailed.  Determined  not  to  be  left  behind, 
he  resolved  to  try  to  swim  to  the  vessel ;  a  rash 
resolve,  but  successfully  accomplished.  It  was 
an  exciting  passage,  for  the  vessel  was  chased  by 
an  English  cruiser.  The  French  vessel  had  but 
one  old  cannon,  a  very  long  one.  There  was  an 
old  gunner  on  board,  who  paced  back  and  forth 
excitedly,  and,  when  both  ships  were  becalmed, 
begged  the  captain  to  let  him  load  the  cannon 
and  try  to  cut  off  the  Englishman's  mast  head. 
For  some  time  the  captain  thought  the  chances 
were  too  small,  and  the  excited  passengers,  know- 
ing they  were  pursued  for  their  wealth  rather 
than  their  persons,  gathered  all  their  money  and 
other  valuables,  put  into  a  large  bag  and  entrust- 
ed it  to  Charles  Homet,  with  the  understanding 
that  if  they  were  boarded  by  the  English,  he 
would  cast  the  bag  into  the  ocean.  At  last,  as 
the  vessels  drifted  nearer,  the  entreaties  of  the 
old  gunner  prevailed.  Lying  fiat  on  the  deck,  he 
carefully  sighted,  discharged  the  cannon,  and  the 
mast  head  was  severed,  disabling  the  English  ves- 

—109— 


sel,  at  which  sight  all  the  French  cheered  lustily. 
It  was  anticipated  the  English  would  take  to  their 
boats  and  board  the  French  vessel,  so  the  old  can- 
non was  reloaded  ready  to  destroy  them  if  need  be. 
But  night  fell,  there  came  a  freshening  breeze, 
and  the  French  sailed  out  of  sight  of  the  English 
before  daybreak. 

However,  Charles  was  pleasantly  occupied,  as 
during  the  voyage  he  made  or)  renewed  the  ac- 
quaintance of  Maria  Theresa  Scheilinger,  a  native 
of  Strasburg,  who  had  also  served  in  the  royal 
household.  They  were  married  either  on  ship- 
board or  just  after  they  landed  at  Bordentown, 
N.  J.,  January,  1793.  They  lived  about  a  year 
at  Bottle  Hill,  N.  J.,  but  early  in  1794,  hearing  of 
the  Asylum  colony,  they  were  naturally  attract- 
ed thither.  It  is  possible  that  they  were  already 
known  to  Talon,  who  quickly  showed  his  confi- 
dence in  Charles  Homet  by  placing  him  in  charge 
of  the  buildings  in  the  forest  intended  for  the 
hiding  place  of  Marie  Antoinette.  Homet  lived 
at  that  point  for  about  two  years,  and  then  moved 
into  the  settlement.  He  purchased  several  lots 
of  the  company,  and,  as  has  been  said,  when  the 
French  deserted  the  colony,  he  and  Laporte  were 
the  only  two  who  remained  on  the  ground.  He 
lived  on  the  lower  part  of  town  plot,  near  where 
the  Methodist  church  is  now  located. 

He  was  a  very  reserved  man,  and  but  little  is 
really  known  of  his  personal  history;  the  latter 
part  of  his  life  he  spent  in  Wysox,  where  he  died. 
He  was  the  last  survivor  of  those  who  settled  at 
Asylum.  Judge  Stevens,  in  an  obituary,  says  of 
—no— 


him,  "  By  prudent  management  and  industry  he 
soon  acquired  the  means  of  comfort  and  ease. 
His  integrity  was  never  impeached,  and  with 
morals  unblemished  he  performed  the  pilgrimage 
of  life,  and  like  the  righteous  met  death  with 
hope  of  immortality."     He  died  Dec.  29,  1838. 

Charles  Hornet  was  twice  married,  his  second 
wife  being  Cynthia  Sicler,  l>y  whom  he  had  one 
daughter,  Lydia,  who  married  E.  T.  Fox,  of  To- 
wanda.  As  there  are  no  living  descendants  of 
this  wife  we  will  not  give  genealogy.  His  de- 
scendants for  the  most  part  live  in  Bradford 
county.  A  town  nearly  opposite  the  old  French- 
town  was  long  since  named  for  him,  ''  Hornet's 
Ferry." 

1  Charles  Homet,  m . .  1793  Maria  Theresa 
Scheilinger,  d  June  3,  1823. 

Children: 

2  Charles  Frederick,  b.  May   9,1793,  d. .  .1865. 

3  Francis  Xavier,  b,  April  1798,  d.  Jan.  27, 
1890. 

4  Harriet  Theresa,  b.  March  2,  1801,  d.  Oct. 
18,  1847. 

5  Joseph,  b.  d.  Feb.  26.  1880. 

II     Charles   F.2   Homet  jr.,  m.  Sept.  24,  1817, 
Lucy  Stevens. 
Children : 

6  Francis,  b.  July  8,  1820,  d. . .  1867. 

7  TJieresa,  b.  July  8,  1822  at  Asylum. 

8  Jonathan,  b.  Feb.  16,  1824. 

9  Edward,  b.  May  3,  1826. 

10  Milton,  b.  May  24,  1828,  d. . . 

—HI— 


11  Charles  S.,  b.  Maj^  20,  1830,  d.  .  .  1902. 

12  Volneij,  b.  March  20,  1833. 

13  Seth,  b.  March  13,  1836. 

14  Josex)liA.,  b.  May  18,  1840. 

VI  Francis,  ^  m. . .  Mary  Gilbert,  nu  onimren, 
m.  . .  Ada  Chamberlain. 

Children : 

15  Mary. 

16  George  S.,  b.  m. 

17  Rachel,  b. . .  m. . .  Wells,  has  2 daughters. 

VII  Theresa,^  m.  Oct.  9,  1848,    U.  Philemon 
Stone. 

18  Charles  R.,  b.  May  27,  1849. 

19  Thomas  B.,   b.  March  4,  1857,  m. 
Children. 

20  Ulysses  P.,  b.  Mar,  5,  1856. 

21  Lucy,  b.  Nov.  9,  1865,  m.   . .   Howard. 
Children: 

Nettie. 
Harriet. 
Genevieve. 
Jonathan. 

Theresa,  b.  x\ug.  9,  1858,  d.  . . 

VIII  Jonathan,^  ra.  Harriet  Donley. 
Children : 

22  Lucy. 

23  Ada. 

IX  Edward,  ^  m.  Maria  Mingos. 
Child: 

24  Lucy  J. 

X  Milton,  3  m.  Mary  Ann  Irvine. 
Children: 

25  Irvine,  b . . .  d .  . . 

—112— 


26  Theresa,  b . . .  m . .  . 

XI  Charles  S.,^  m.  June  11,  1861,  Julia  Hor- 

Children: 

27  William  H.,  b.  March  22,  1862,  married. 

28  Eliza  H.,  b.  Dec  5,  1865.  married. 

29  Francis,  b.  Aug.  27,  1869. 

XXIX    Francis,"^  m.  Oct.  8,  1895,  Lizzie  Mor- 
row. 

Children: 

30  Beatrice  F.,  b.  Oct.  4,  1896. 

31  Evelyn  F.,  b.  Dec.  3,  1898. 

32  Lida  H.,  b.  June7,  1901. 

XII  Volney,^  m.  April  30,  1861,  Emma   Ing- 
ham, b.  Nov.  25,  1840,  d.  Feb.  26,  1893. 

Child: 

33  Jessie,  b.  April  20,  1863. 

XIII  Seth,  3  m.  March  4, 1864,  Elizabeth  Eilen- 
berger. 

Children : 

34  Marietta,  b.  Mar.  5,  1865. 

35  Charles,  M.,  b.  Oct.  6,  1867. 

36  Cora,  b.  Oct.  21.  1869,  d,  May  10,  1888. 

37  Anna,  b.  April  16,  1877,  d.  April   18,  1877. 

38  Geraldine  M.,  b.  June  29,  1876. 

XXXIV  Marietta,'*'  m.   June  19,  1890,  A.  D. 
Nesbit. 

XXXV  Charles^  M.,  m.  Oct.  28,  1896,   Caro- 
line Chamberlain. 

Children: 

39  Elizabeth,  b.  May  25,  1897. 

40  Marietta,  b.  Mar.  24,  1900. 

—113— 


III  Francis^   X.    m.    June    24,     1828,    Lucy 
Dodge,  no  issue. 

IV  Harriet^    T.,   m.    Oct.   11,     1822,    Simon 
Stevens. 

Children : 

41  Charles,  b.  Dec.  8,  1823,  d.  Dec.  5,  1895. 

42  George,  b.  May  10,  1820,  d.  Oct.  5,  1897. 

44  Harriet,  b.  April  20,  1825,  d.  Sept.  6,  i860. 

43  Ellen,  b.  May  10,  1830. 

45  Mary  S.,  b.  Nov.  25,  1841,  d.  Dec.  25, 1871. 
XII     Charles.^  m.  Martha  Decker. 
Children : 

46  Beed,  b. . .  married  and  has  children. 

47  Helen,  )  ,   m    .  Bert  Kingsley,  has  children. 
tS    Ella,     ]  '^• 

49  Charles,  b. . . .  m. . .  Minnie  Kingsley, 
Children: 

Fred. 

Frank. 

XLII     George,  *  m . . .  Mary  Eyer. 

Children : 

50  Charlotte,  b .  . . 

51  Susie,  b . . .  m.  Chas  Mayberry,  1  son  Allen. 

52  George,  b. . .  m.  Frances  Turner. 
Children: 

Mary. 
George. 

XLIII     Ellen,  4    m.   Nov.    21,    1849,     Wm.   R. 
Storrs, 

Children:  . 

53  Harriet,  b.  Nov.  2,  1850,  d.  Feb.  2,  1895, m. 
Oct.  11,  1871,  A.  L.  Thomas. 

54  William  B.,    b.  Aug.  20,  1856,  d.  Nov.  19, 

1886. 

—114— 


55  Marian  E.,  b.  Oct.  6,  1858. 

56  Lillian,  b.  Nov.  1,  1864. 

XLIV    Harriet,*    m,    M.   J.    Long,    no  living 
issue. 

XLV    Mary^  S.,  m.  Sept.  25,  1870.  M.  J.  Long, 
Child. 

57  Fanny  Eleanor,  b.  Oct.  22,  1871. 
V    Joseph,  ^  m.  . .  Orris  Brown. 
Children: 

58  Jewett  G. 

59  Marion. 

60  Lydia. 

XIV    Joseph  A., ^  m.    ..  Adelia  Gordon 
Children: 

61  Augusta. 

62  Fanny. 

63  Edward. 

64  Minor. 

65  Eleazer. 

Note — Joseph  and  family  should  come  after 
No.  40. 
LXI    Augusta,^  HI.  ..  Emory  Kerrick. 
Children : 

66  Joseph. 

67  Helen. 

XXVH     Wm.   H^   Homet,  m.   Oct.  17,  1889, 
Addie  Mitten,  b.  1868. 
Children: 

Harold  Mitten,  b.  Aug.  1,  1890. 

Roland  Stevens,  b.  July  16,  1891. 

Julia  Horton,  b.  Dec.  5,  1892. 

Edna,  b.  Dec.  27,  1893. 

Marion,  b.  May  8,  1895. 

—115— 


James  Francis,  b.  Mar.  2,  1898. 

Mildred,  b.  July  14,  1899. 

Neva,  b.  June  11,  1900. 

Dorothy  Crawford,  b.  Dec.  26,  1902. 
The  above  genealogy  is  incomplete  and  incor- 
rectly numbered,  information  came  so  late  and 
so  slowly. 


-116— 


APPENDIX. 


Sources  of  Information. 

In  print,  in  possession  of  Hist.  Soc.  of  Penna.,  some    public 
libraries,  and  some  private  individuals. 

1794  Journal  of  an  excursion  to  the  U.  S.  of  America. 

Mr.  Wansey. 

1795  Travels  through  the  U.  S.  of  North  America. 

Pub.  1797  in  English. 

Duke  de  la  Rochefoucault  Liancourt. 
1800  Travels  through  the  States  of  North  America,  p  534. 

Isaac  Weld,  jr. 
1804  The  Trustees,  p  35.  Alexander  Wilson. 

II. 

!Wilkes-Barre  Gazette. 
Luzerne  Federalist. 
Washington   Internationalist. 

III. 
Receipted  bills  of  work  done  in  colony  notes,  &.c. 

In  possession  of  Mrs.  Louise  Welles  Murray. 

IV. 

Letters  to  Matthias  Hollenback,  Boulogne  and  others. 

V. 
Asylum  Co.  Agreements,  Certificate  of  Stock,  Minute  Book, 
Catalogue  of  Sale  in  Hist.  Soc.  Penna.  Tioga  Point  Hist.  Soc. 

VI. 
County  Records  of  Luzerne  and  Bradford. 
Lists  of  taxables,  1795  to  1801. 
VII. 
Family  records   and  traditions  of  Laporte,  Homet,  Lefevre, 
Prevost,  d'  Autremont,  Keating,  C.  F.  Welles,  Judge  Stevens, 
Brown,  Moody  and  Biles. 

VIII. 
Biographic  Universelle. 
Nouvelle  Biographic  Geuerale. 
Soixante  Ans  de  la  vie  d'un  peuple. 
Biographic  de  Michaud. 

—117— 


IX. 

Various  papers  on  Asylum  written  by  Rev.  David  Craft  for 
Bradford  County  History  and  Wyoming  Hist.  Soc,  also  letters, 
records,  «&c.,  in  "Craft  Collection,"  Tioga  Point  Hist.  Soc. 

X. 

"Memoirs  of  Comte  de  More"  published  in  U.  S.  1898  aa 
"A  French  Volunteer  of  the  War  of  Independence." 

XI. 

This  is  the  only  bill  of  goods  for  Asylum  known  to  be  iu  ex- 
istence, original  in  possession  of  Hollenback  heirs. 

(A  bill  of  lading  for  m''  Tallon"  M.  H.) 
EfEets  delivrge  au  Charetier 

Pour  Monsieur  Tallon 
9.  Boittes  de  Vere  a  Vitre 
3.  Malles 
200.  lbs  d'Acier 

6.  Boittes  de  difierentes  Grandeurs 
1.  do.  de  Moutarde 
1.  Bbl.  contenant  Poids  et  Mesures 

3.  Q.  *"^  de  Cordage 

1.  Tiercone  de  Sucre  blanc 

4.  Sacs  Caffg 

1.  Bbl.  de  Salpgtre 
1.  do.  Amidon 
1.  do.  Epicerie 
1.  do.  The 
1.  do  Quincaillerie 
1.  do.  Vinegre. 

Les  effets  charges  sur  les  Wagons  de  M.  Parrish  doivent  etre 
rendu  a  Wilkes  Barrg  et  delivre  au  Col.  Hollinback,  qui  payera 
le  voiturage  a  raison  de  11  shellings  du  cent  pesant  a  comte  du 
quel  j'ai  paye  cinquante  gourdes*  tant  pour  ces  objets  que  pour 
ceux  chargfe  ches  M.  HoUingsworth  et  par  M.  Wright. 
(The  above  is  undated.) 


*  "Gourde"  is  the  Franco- American  name  for  the  colonial  dollar  in  use 
in  West  Indies. 

—118— 


Translation  of  bill  of  lading. 
Goods  delivered  to  teamster  for  M.  Talon 
9  Boxes  window  glass 
2  Trunks 
200  lbs  of  Steel 
6  Boxes  of  different  sizes 
1  Box  ©f  Mustard 

1  Bbl  containing  Weijjhts  &  Measures 

2  hundred  weight  of  cordage 
1  Tierce  of  white  sugar 

4  sacks  coffee 
1  Bbl  saltpetre 
1     "     starch 
1     "     groceries 
1     "    Tea 
1     "     Hardware 
1     *'     Vinegar 

The  goods  loaded  on  Mr.  Parish's  wagons  should  be  for- 
warded to  Wilkes  Barre  and  delivered  to  Col.  Hollinback  who 
will  pay  the  cartage  at  the  rate  of  11  shillings  per  hundred 
weight,  on  account  of  which  I  have  paid  fifty  "gourdes" 
more  for  these  things  than  for  those  charged  to  M.  Holliugs- 
worth  and  by  Mr.  Wright. 


LETTER  B. 


(Boulogne  to  HoUenback,    Nov.    15,   1793,    by   the  hand  of 
(Viscount  de  Noailles.) 

Standing  Stone,  9*^^^'  ye     ^^^^  1793 
Sir: 

I  do  not  know  if  M''  Alexander  hath  delivered  you  a 
Letter  which  I  wrote  to  you  day  betore  yesterday,  2  hours  be- 
fore the  arrival  of  the  Viscount  de  Noailles:  in  case  you  had 
not  received  that  letter  before  the  arrival  of  this  one  I  wish  you 
would  be  kind  enough  to  send  me  as  quick  as  possible  40 
bushels  of  slack'd  lime  and  some  Lead  sheet  for  four  roofs  win- 
dows. I  want  them  absolutely  to  complete  the  buildings  here. 
If  you  could  also  send  me  few  Barrils  of  salted  fish  on  reason- 
able terms  you  would  oblige  me,  and  if  you  cannot  in  your  an- 

—119— 


swer  pray  let  me  know  what  is  their  common  weight  and  price. 

In  the  conversation  I  had  here  withM'"  De  Noailles  rendering 
my  account,  he  seemed  to  me  to  think  I  had  received  from  you 
more  than  one  thousand  Dollars,  and  particularly  as  if  it  was 
the  66  Dollars  &  f  which  you  deducted  from  the  400  Dollars 
you  iirst  gave  me.  I  suppose  it  is  a  mistake  in  understanding 
because  you  may  easily  recollect  the  circumstances  and  if  I  do 
myself  my  account  in  your  Ledger  is  settled  right.  I  wish  you 
would  examine  it  with  the  Viscounte  de  Noailles  and  AF  Keat- 
ing and  write  me  about  it  because  I  am  very  certain  the  deduc- 
tion hath  been  made. 

I  shall  want  immediately  for  the  payment  of  the  workmen 
Labourers  and  mechanics  I  have  here  about  two  thousand  two 
hundred  Dollars,  viz.  about  1200  by  the  return  of  M*"  d'Autre- 
mont  who  will  be  at  Wilkesbarre  as  soon  as  the  Viscount  de 
Noailles  and  the  other  thousand  dollars  if  I  don't  draw  upon 
you  for  the  amount  in  favour  of  some  of  the  workmen  who  re- 
side in  your  place  in  about  a  fortnight  or  three  weeks  from  this 
date. 

In  case  your  business  should  call  you  from  town,  I  hope  and 
beg  on  you  that  you'll  leave  a  word  to  M^^  Hollenback  or  your 
clerk  to  give  the  sum  I  call  for :  we  are  too  distant  from  one  an- 
other to  be  or  have  always  somebody  on  the  road  for  a  trifle, 
and  I  must  own  it  I  was  really  surprised  when  M''  d'Autremont 
whom  I  had  sent  for  1000  dollars  came  back  with  20,  and  more 
so  when  on  your  return  from  Philadelphia  you  only  sent  me  200. 

It  now  come  into  my  mind  that  when  you  said  or  when  M^- 
de  Noailles  understood  that  I  had  received  over  than  1000  dol- 
lars may  be  you  included  the  amount  of  the  goods  which  you 
have  sent  me;  but  on  the  other  side  I  understand  that  we  are 
to  have  terms  for  the  payment  of  the  supplies,  and  keep  the 
ready  cash  for  the  payment  of  the  workmen. 

Therefore  I  beg  on  you  to  clear  the  matter  between  M^  de 
Noailles  and  you,  and  have  it  in  such  a  light  that  I  might 
know  perfectly  on  what  I  can  depend. 

I  remain  with  Consideration,  Sir, 
Yours, 

Ch^s  Bug  Boulogne. 

You  may  deduct  on  the  aforesaid  sum  the  60  pounds  to  be 
paid  to  Hesse's  Kellogg  &  Delano.  C.  B. 

—120— 


LETTER  C. 

To  the  President  and  Managers  of  the  Asylum  Company, 
Gentlemen : 

I  must  again  repeat  my  application  to  you  for  redress,  and 
shall  lay  my  claim  before  you. 

In  1793,  at  the  request  of  Mr.  Robert  Morris,  I  purchased  for 
him  and  Mr.  Talon  the  Flatts  now  known  by  the  name  of  the 
Asylum  Flatts,  and  gave  my  nol:es  for  the  balance  due  the 
owners  of  the  said  lands. 

In  1794,  Messrs.  Morris  &  Nicholson,  and  associates  Messrs. 
Talon  and  DeiSToailles  formed  the  Asylum  Company:  the  capi- 
tal stock  consisting  in  lands  purchased  or  to  be  purchased. 
The  Asylum  Flatts  were  given  in  and  received  by  the  Board, 
well  informed  of  the  above  incumbrances:  the  changes  made  in 
1795  caus^ed  no  alteration. 

In  October  1801  new  articles  were  made  by  divers  share- 
holders, in  order  to  protect  and  secure  their  rights;  and  on  that 
account  ))urchased  at  Marshal's  sales  all  the  estate  of  the  said 
Asylum  Company,  excepting  the  proportion  of  739  shares. 

The  above-mentioned  Notes  becoming  due,  I  had  to  pay 
them,  because  the  Asylum  Company  had  no  other  means  of 
procuring  money,  than  by  Mr.  Morris  and  Mr.  Nicholson,  who 
were  successively  the  Presidents  of  the  Company ;  and  their 
diflBculties  were  too  great.  Mr.  Nicholson  had  even  ceased 
paying  the  interest  of  six  per  cent  payable  to  the  shareholders. 
— However,  in  May  1795,  being  President,  he  mentioned  to  me 
that  he,  and  not  j\lr.  Morris,  would  settle  my  claim  against  the 
Company :  and  on  the  25th  of  the  same  month,  he  paid  me  as 
part  of  said  claim  .f  648. 60  on  account  of  the  Company. 

Owing  to  his  embarassments,  and  of  course  to  those  of  the 
Company  on  account  of  their  connection,  I  could  get  nothing 
from  him,  nor  from  the  Company,  nor  from  Mr.  Morris;  and  I 
was  advised  to  begin  a  suit. 

It  is  evident  from  the  above  facts  that  I  have  been  obliged  to 
pay  money  for  lands  which  the  Asylum  Company  has  held,  and 
has  even  sold;  and  that  it  has  been  known  the  said  Company 
from  the  first  that  part  of  their  cost  was  still  due  me. 

I  have  constantly  and  regularly  laid  in  my  claim  to  the  Board 

—121— 


and  its  agents.  No  change  in  its  constitution  can  destroy  or 
annul  it;  the  payment  of  $648.60  shews  it  to  have  been  ac- 
knowledged ;  the  proportion  of  739  shares  is  at  least  liable  to 
the  payment  of  my  claim,  if  not  even  the  whole  property.  It 
could  not  be  the  intention  of  the  late  purchasers  to  cancel  any 
bona-fide  debt,  but  to  secure  their  interests  without  impairing 
that  of  others. 

I  have  long  since  rendered  the  Company  my  account,  with 
the  exception  of  some  costs ;  and  I  do  now  expect  they  will  do 
something  for  me.  I  have  been  often  and  repeatedly  told  the 
Company  had  no  funds  to  pay  me  or  any  one;  and  have  waited 
until  I  saw  and  heard  of  the  company's  selling  large  tracts  of 
Land,   and  receiving  sums  of  money  for  them. 

I  never  should  have  stood  a  suit  on  any  of  my  notes,  but 
was  advised  to  do  so  by  my  counsel ;  that  a  third  person  giving 
his  note  was  not  obliged  to  pay,  as  he  had  received  no  value 
for  them :  but  when  he  saw  my  notes,  he  said  I  would  have  to 
pay  them,  which  I  did. — And  now,  gentlemen,  all  I  ask  is  the 
money  I  have  advanced  with  the  interest  thereon.  The  loss  of 
my  time,  as  well  as  my  expenses,  I  will  say  nothing  about.  I 
pray  you  to  do  something  for  me.  I  am  an  old  man,  and  can- 
not travel  much  longer  for  myself  or  any  one  else;  and  I  have  a 
family  depending  on  me  for  support. 

I  am.  Gentlemen,  with  due  respect, 

Wilkes  Barre,  Your  very  humble  servt 

Aug.  10,  1814.  Matthias  HoUenback. 


(Copies   of   two  of  the  notes  referred  to  in  the  above  letter) 
(both  given  to  Charles  Townley,  May  28th  1794) 


(1)  I  Promise  to  pay  unto  Charles  Townley  or  his  order  the 
sum  of  Nineteen  pounds  sixteen  shillings  and  10*^  good  and 
lawful  money  of  Pennsylvania,  to  be  paid  by  the  first  day  of 
November  next  after  the  date  hereof.     For  the  value  received 

—122— 


in  a  Tract  of  land  Purchased  for  Viscount  Noailles  on  Standing 
Stone  flatt. 
As  my  Hand  and  Seal  this  28th  day  of  — (May)  —A.  D.  1794. 
(Witness  ?) 
Joseph  A.  Rathbun.  (Signature  torn  off) 

(Assignment  of  the  above.) 
I  do  assigne  the   within  note  to  Rich^  Townley  for  his  own 
use. 

Asylum  1st  Octi"   1794.  Charles  Townley. 

Note  19.16.10 
11.  7 

20.   8.   5 

(The  Second  Townley  Note.) 
I  promise  to  pay  unto  Charles  Townley  the  sum  of  Fifty 
Pounds,  Good  and  Lawful  Money  of  Pennsylvania,  to  be  paid 
by  the  first  day  of  November  which  will  be  in  the  year  A.  D. 
1795,  for  the  Value  Received  in  a  Tract  of  Land  purchased  of 
said  Townley  for  Viscount  Noailles  on  Standing  Stone  flatts. — 
As  witness  my  hand  and  seal  This  28^^  ,jay  of  May,  A.  D.  1794. 

For  Matthias  Hollenback. 

(SEAL) 
Ben.  Perry. 
(Receipts  and  other  Memoranda  upon  the  back  of  Note  No.  2.) 

(1)  Received  20th  Dec^    1795  two  dollars  on  the  within. 

Charles  Townley, 

(2)  Reed  May   23^  1796    on  this   note  three   pounds  eight 
shillings  and  sixpence. 

L.3.  8.  6.  C.  Townley. 

(3)  Rec<^  May  2Qt^  1797  of  the  within  note  three  pounds  P. 
C.  ( i.  e.  Pennsylvania  Currency)  his 

Robt     X     Alexander 
mark 

(4)  Reed  Oct.    3ist    1797,    of  the    within  note   Twenty-one 
Pound  and  Sixpence,  Pn  Cy :         By  me,  John  Harvey 

(5)  (In  the  hand  of  M.  H.)  John  Alexander  says  he  paid — 

first  three  pounds 3.     0.     0 

then 55.     9.   H 

58.     9.     11 
the  note  is 51.   IG.       6 

—123— 


(Boulogne   to    Hollenback,    by   the  hand   of   Obadiah  Gore 
Esq.)  (Nov.  15,  1793) 

Standing  Stone,  'jber  15th  1793. 
Sir: 

Esq''^  Gore  going  to  your  place  on  account  of  Business  and 
having  some  business  with  him  to  settle,  I  have  drawn  this  day 
at  sight  on  you  &  to  his  order  the  sum  of  fifteen  dollars  which 
I  hope  you'll  pay  on  presentation  and  charge  it  to  the  account 
of,  Sir,  Yours 

Ch^s  Bue  Boulogne 

(Boulogne  to  Hollenback,  by  the  hand  of   Asa  Johnson) 
(Nov.  16,  1793.) 

Standing  Stone,  ober  ^Qih  1793 
Sir: 

Confirming  my  two  letters  of  yesterday  one  carried  to  you  by 
the  Viscount  de  Noailles  the  other  by  Esq^e   Gore,     I  write  to 
you  this  one  to  advise  you  that  I  have  drawn  upon  you  at  sight, 
Dollars  42,  order  of  Asa  Johnson 
ditto     46,     do  of  William  Dunmead 


Total  88  Dollars,  to  which  Draughts  I  hope  you'll  give  a 
due  acceptance. 

I  suppose  the  Viscount  hath  spoke  to  you  relating  the  frank- 
lin stove  and  pipes,  which  we  want  here,  the  weather  hinder- 
ing us  from  having  the  chimneys  made;  therefore  I  beg  you  to 
send  them  as  quick  as  possible. 

I  remain  with  esteem, 
Sir,         Yours, 

Ch^s  Boulogne. 

(Boulogne  to  Hollenback,  by  Joseph  C.  Town,  Nov.  32,  1793.) 

Standing  Stone,  9ber  32^  1793. 
Sir: 

I  received  yesterday  by  M^  d'Autremont  the  favour  of  yours 
dated  18th  instant,  as  also  the  four  hundred  Dollars  which  you 
had  delivered  to  him,  for  which   you   are   credited.     And  give 

—124— 


you  by  this  notice  that  I  have  drawn  this  day  ou  you  at  20  days 
sight  the  sum  of  one  hundred  and  eighty  dollars  order  of  Joseph 
Curtis  Town,  to  which  draught  I  beg  you  to  give  a  due  accept- 
ance, also  credited  you  of  the  same. 

You  tell  me,  sir,  in  your  letter  of  the  4th  instant  that  you 
have  received  my  two  draughts  on  Kobt  Morris  for  2000  Dol- 
lars cash  &  moreover  from  the  Viscount  de  Noailles  one  thous- 
and dollars  toward  my  supplies  till  January,  which  makes  in 
all  three  thous^  Dollars  deducting  what  I  had  received;  in 
your  last  of  the  18th  you  tell  me  the  400  Dollars  you  seud  me 
are  all  you  can  spare;  that  as  to  the  supplies  you  expect  to  be 
paid  as  I  agreed  with  you  for  and  no  otherwise;  and  you  add 
you  have  agreed  with  the  Viscount  de  Noailles  to  accept  my 
draught  on  you  in  the  amount  of  800  Dollars.  I  see  nothing 
clear  and  explicit  in  those  letters,  and  I  should  like  to  know  on 
what  I  can  depend.  All  I  see  thro'  this,  is  that  if  you  don't 
intend  to  be  paid  down  for  our  supplies,  you  ought  to  have 
more  than  400  Dollars  to  spare;  and  if  you  do  intend  to  be  paid 
for  those  supplies  either  beforehand  or  on  the  delivery,  I  wish 
to  know  it  as  quick  as  possible  and  as  plain  also  as  possible  be- 
cause I  shall  act  accordingly.  I  believe  that  I  ought  to  know 
on  what  ground  I  am  to  stand,  particularly  having  business 
with  so  many  hands  from  all  quarters  for  work  &  being  deter- 
mined to  take  no  engagements  that  I  could  not  fulfill. 
I  remain,  with  Consideration, 

Sir,  Yours, 

Ch^s  Bu6  Boulogne. 

(Boulogne  to  M.  H.,  Nov.  27,  1793.) 

Standing  Stone,  O^^^'r  27^^  1793. 
Mathias  Hollenback  E8q''<^_ 
Sir: 

This  is  to  inform  you  that  according  to  your  Letter  of  the 
18th  instant  I  have  drawn  to-day  on  you  at  twenty  days  sight, 
order  of  M^"  Elizer  Gaylord  the  of  sum  twenty-four  Dollars  to 
which  draught  I  expect  you  will  give  full  acceptance  &  charge 
to  the  account  of 

Sir,  Yours, 

Ches  Buf.  Boulogne. 
—125— 


(Boulogne  to  M.  H.,  arrival  of  Dupetit  Thouars.) 

Standing  Stone,   O^er  30th  1793. 

Sir: 

M^  Dupetit  Thouars  with  all  his  hands  arrived  here  yester- 
day, and  also  M^-  Perrault ;  the  last  brought  me  a  letter  from 
M^  Talon,  who  tells  me  he  expect  to  be  here  the  6th  or  the  8th 
of  next  month.  I  cannot  use  the  opportunity  which  I  seize  to 
forward  you  this  letter,  to  send  some  papers  to  M""  Talon  while 
he  will  be  in  your  place,  but  I  shall  send  an  express  to-morrow, 
in  order  so  meet  him  in  time  if  possible. 

The  boat  is  starting,  therefore  I  have  no  time  to  say  anything 

more  but  that  I  remain. 

Sir,  Yours, 

Ch^s  Bue  Boulogne. 

(Boulogne  to  M.  H.,  by  Palmer  Shaw,  Dec.  3,  1793.) 

Standing  Stone,  X^er  3d  i793_ 
Sir: 

I  received  by  M'"  Palmer  Shaw  your  canoe  man  the  two 
Barils  of  slacked  lime  you  have  sent  me,  as  also  the  2  Barils  of 
Nails,  one  large  anvil,  1  bick  horn*,  1  stack  to  make  nails,  and 
six  bars  of  Iron  which  M^  Dupetit  Thouars  had  left  behind 
him. 

I  also  received  by  M^  Town  your  letter  of  the  20*^  last,  ad- 
vising me  of  the  arrival  here  of  Esq^^  Ross's  Boat,  with  differ- 
ent things  for  the  settlement. 

I  remain.  Sir, 
*  Beak  horn.  Yours, 

Ch^s  Boulogne. 

(Boulogne  to  Hollenback,  Dec.  3,  1793.) 

Standing  Stone,  Xber  3d  1793. 

Sir: 

This  is  to  inform  you  that  according  to  you  Letter  of  the 
Igth  of  November  last  I  have  this  day  drawn  on  you  at  twenty 
days  sight  to  M^"  John  Harvey  or  order  the  sum  of  fourty  two 
Dollars  which  you'll  be  kind  enough  to  accept  and  charge  to 

the  account  of 

Sir,     Yours 

Ches  Bug  Boulogne. 

—126— 


(Boulogne  to  HoUenback,  Feb.  27,  1794.) 

February  27*^   1794. 
Matbias  HoUenback  Esq^e 
Sir: 

This  is  to  give   you   advice  of   my  draught  for   M'"  Talon 
accompt,   upon  you  this  day  at  10  days  sight  order  of  Joel 
Greener  for  fifty  Dollars  to  which  draught  I  beg  on  you  to  do 
a  good  reception :  you'll  oblige,  Sir, 
Yours, 

Ches  Bu6  Boulogne. 

(Boulogne  to  HoUenback,  April  30,  1794.) 

Azylum,  April  30^^    1794. 
Sir: 

I  Received  by  Benj.  Slocum's  boat  the  boxes  Casks  &ca 
mentioned  in  your  last.  This  one  vfill  be  favoured  to  you  by 
M''  Dandlau,  one  of  our  gentlemen  who  is  kind  enough  to  go 
to  your  place  to  see  what  can  be  the  reason  why  Blanchard 
does  not  come  back  with  the  plough,  harrow-teeth  chains,  &ca. 
I  have  heard  here  he  was  taken  sick.  I  am  sorry  of  it,  but  as 
we  want  those  things  immediately  on  account  of  sowing,  plant- 
ing »&c^>  you'll  oblige  me  very  much  to  have  those  articles  de- 
livered to  him  and  send  them  immediately  in  the  canoe  Blanch- 
ard had  from  us;  and  as  we  want  also  300  lbs  German  steel,  600 
lbs  iron  for  cart  wheels,  ^  inches  thick  &  2  inches  wide,  if  it  can 
be  had,  otherwise  send  it  as  you  generally  make  use  of  for  your 
wheels;  4  or  5  Bundles  of  strong  nails  rods  for  making  nails 
about  5  inches  long,  half  a  gross  of  H-L  inges  (hinges)  11 
inches,  for  hanging  doors,  a  gross  of  H-L  6  inches  Inges  for 
hanging  windows,  a  couple  of  doz.  of  Latches  &  Ketches;  those 
Inges,  Latches  &  Ketches  of  the  best  quality  you  have  and  the 
neatest:  a  small  baril  of  20  penny  nails,  1  baril  of  10  penny  d^o, 
1  d*o  of  8  penny,  1  small  ditto  of  6  «&  4  penny,  and  the  same 
quantity  of  brads.  I  shall  be  obliged  to  you  to  deliver  to  him 
also  those  articles  immediately,  and  find  him  some  men  to  come 
up  the  river  with  the  canoe  Blanchard  went  down  with,  and 
the  one  that  was  left  in  your  care  last  fall  by  the  Viscount  de 
Noailles.  I  suppose  those  2  canoes  will  be  sufficient  to  bring 
the  whole,  as  also  18  spades  &  6  shovels,  6  grubbing  howes. 

—127— 


I  have  already  wrote  to  you  on  account  of  some  fat  cattle  to 
be  sent  here.  I  beg  on  you  also  to  send  with  them  two  good 
yoke  of  working  oxen,  and  6  yoke  and  bow  for  them  and  others. 

Pray  loose  no  time  in  sending  a  wagon  to  M'"  Heller  to  have 
the  remainder  of  the  goods  that  are  there,  for  we  are  in  the 
greatest  want;  and  if  possible  keep  your  boat  ready  to  have 
them  as  well  as  other  wagons  that  I  am  informed  are  coming, 
as  quick  as  possible ;  and  be  kind  enough  to  see  if  they  are  in 
good  order. 

I  don't  expect  I  shall  make  use  of  the  money  which  IVF  Keat- 
ing &  M^  Talon  writes  me  to  take  from  you,  amounting  to 
300  Dollars,  other  ways  than  for  the  payment  of  the  draft  al- 
ready given  upon  you,  and  a  bill  I  have  given  M*"  Town,  which 
amount  to  133  Dollars,  and  which  he  hath  remitted  to  M^  But- 
ler ;  or  for  the  payment  of  small  matters  which  the  Bearer  may 
want  in  his  journey. 

I  remain  with  esteem.     Yours, 

Ch'^s  Boulogne. 

Please  to  send  some  body  with  the  bearer  at  (to)  Blanchard's 
house  in  order  to  know  exactly  what  are  the  things  that  were 
to  be  delivered  to  him.  Send  me  also  one  doz.  small  cast  iron 
pots,  1  gridiron  6  kettle  and  2  good  Bushels,  stamped.  The 
men  that  are  to  come  with  the  canoes  will  find  themselves  in 
provisions  &  liquors. 

(Outside  address.) 

Math^  Hollenback  Esqre  Wilkesbarre :  in  his  absence  to  hi® 
Lady  or  their  clerk.     Favoured  by  Mr  Dandlau. 

(May  30,  1794) 
(John  MontuUg  to  Matthias  Hollenback) 
Sir: 

When  I  was  last  at  Wilkesbarre  I  left  a  horse  at  M^"  Amos 
Fell's:  the  horse  has  partly  lost  his  sight  but  is  as  good  a 
horse  as  possible  for  the  Waggon  or  Plough.  I  will  take  it 
as  very  kind  if  you  will  take  it  from  M^"  Fell,  who 
wrote  me  the  other  day,  and  sell  it  to  very  best  ad- 
vantage. The  horse  is  young  and  would  recommend  it 
to   you  for  your   own  use;  whether  you  do  it  or  sell  it  to  any 

—128— 


body  else  I  will  thank  you  to  pay  AF  Shaw  or  order  what  re- 
mains of  an  execution  obtained  against  me  in  spite  cf  all  jus- 
tice.    The  ballance  is  seven  pounds  five  shillings  and  sixpence. 

I  will  take  it  as  very  kind,  and  will  remain  with  all  esteem,  Sir, 
30th  May  1794  Your  very  ob*  serv^ 

Col.  Hollenback.  J.  Montull6 

(same  to  same  Julv  13,  1794  ?) 
Sir: 

I  can  hardly  take  up  the  pen,  being  extremely  reduced  by 
several  fits  of  fever  and  ague:  however,  I  exhert  myself  to 
write  a  few  words,  to  beg  you,  sir,  to  deal  for  the  horse  as  you 
would  for  yourself;  tho'  he  has  lost  his  sight  I  take  it  to  be 
low  at  seven  pound  ten ;  but  I  repeat  again  that  I  agree  to  any 
bargain  you'll  make  about  it,  and  that  I  wish  you  to  sell  it  soon, 
as  I  never  intended  that  you  should  advance  the  money,  or  at 
least  for  a  very  short  while. 

I  think  I  am  pretty  safe  with  regard  to  the  execution. 

I  remain,  sir,  with  esteem. 
Asylum,  13th  July  (1794  ? )  Your  h^Jle  Servant, 

Matthias  Hollenback.  J.  Montull6 

(Boulogne  to  Hollenback,  Aug.  '94) 
Sir: 

Please  pay  to  M^'  B.  Slocum  the  sum  of  twelve  Dollars  one 
shilling  and  threepence,  in  full  payment  of  the  carriage  of  23 
hundred  weight  and  3  quarters  of  goods  by  him  brought  to 
Asylum  and  sent  by  you,  which  sum  hath  been  forgotten  by 
you  in  your  last  account  current.  Wilkesbarre  August  8th 
1794. 
Math.  Hollenback  Ches  Boulogne 

Esq^"^  Wilkesbarre.  for  the  Asylum  Company. 

(Endorsed) 

Received  August  8th  1794  of  Matthias  Hollenback 

The  within  sum  confitte. 

L4.il.3  Benjamin  Slocum. 

(J.  ]Montull6  to  M.  Hollenback,   Sept,  25th,  1794) 
Sir: 

The  following  articles  I  beg  you  will  be  so  kind  as  to  se- 
cure in  your  store,  to  be  forwarded  to  Asylum  to  i\Ir.  Keating 

—129— 


by  the  first  opportunity.  As  I  intend  to  move  up  very  soon 
with  part  of  my  family,  I  should  like  to  know  if  the  water  will 
allow  to  go  up  in  a  small  boot,  and  whether  such  thing  might 
be  procured  at  Wilkesbarre.  In  case  the  water  being  too  low 
for  boats,  would  it  be  a  matter  of  possibility  to  hire  a  canoe  to 
carry  one  ton.  I  shall  take  it  as  a  great  kindness,  Sir,  if  you 
will  take  the  trouble  to  give  me  such  information,  and  likewise 
if  horses  fetch  a  good  price  in  your  place ;  as  when  I  move  up 
I  shall  have  two  capital  horses  to  spare. 

I  remain  with  all  esteem,  Sir 
Col.  Hollenback.  Your  very  ob*    Serv* 

Pottsgrove,  25th  7bre,  1794.  J.  Montulle. 

The  load  consists  of  three  chests  covered  with  leather  and 
skin,  two  chests  of  plain  wood,  one  large  bundle  containing 
beddings,  Nos.  12,  13,  14,  15,  16,  17;  six  articles  and  one  large 
copper  kettle. 

(John  Montuile  to  M.  Hollenback,  Nov.  26,  1784) 
Sir: 

I  expect  that  before  long  M''  Heller  will  forward  you  some 
goods  marked  Sibert  No  1 — 2 — «&c,  «&c.,  and  likewise  some 
marked  MT,  and  numbered.  I  beg  you  will  be  so  kind  as  to 
use  the  first  opportunity  to  send  them  up  to  Asilura.  You  will 
be  pleased  to  let  me  know  what  may  (be)  the  expense  of  the 
carriage  and  storage  ( —  )  I  will  make  immediate  remit- 
tance. 

M^s  Sibert  and  M^^  La  Roue  beg  to  be  both  remembered  to 
M^^s  Hollenback.  Please  to  receive  my  grateful  thanks  for  your 
kindness  to  us  during  our  stay  at  Wilkesbarre,  and  believe  me 
with  all  esteem.  Sir,  Your  very  o^t  h^le  gerv^ 

Asilum,  26,   9b.   1794.  J.  Montulle 

(J.  MontuUg  to   Mrs.  Matthias   Hollenback,  undated; 
probably  in  March  or  April  1795) 
Madam : 

This  moment  comes  to  my  knowledge  that  M^^  Sibert, 
who  chiefly  owns  the  goods  deposited  in  your  store  room,  had 
in  date  of  the  8^^  of  March  writtea  to  M^"  Blanchard  to  take  up 
the  said  goods.     M^   Colin    has   done  the  same;  therefore  it  is 

—130— 


not  in  my  power  to  disappoint  him.  This  is  a  circumstance  un- 
known to  me  till  this  moment.  I  beg  you  will  order  the  whole 
to  be  delivered  to  Mr.  Blanchard ;  tho'  it  seems  that  your  boat 
will  be  the  first  ready ;  but  according  to  the  above  meutioned 
letter  I  should  certainly  be  blamed. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  with  great  esteem,  Madam, 

Your  very  ob^    Serv* 

J.  Montull6 

(J.  Montullg  to  Matthias  Ilollenback) 

Asylum  April  29th  1796. 
Sir: 

I  never  was  so  surprised  and  disappointed  as  when  I 
heard  three  days  previous  to  the  favour  of  yours,  that  M'"  Nich- 
olson had  not  paid  part  of  a  pretty  large  sum  of  money  he  was 
to  lodge  in  M^   de  Mahy's  hands  en  my  account. 

I  have  written  about  it  by  this  post.  I  beg  it  as  a  great 
favour  that  you  would  wait  for  an  answer,  which  I  shall  com- 
municate to  you :  if  not  satisfactory  I  will  make  provisions 
otherwise  to  take  up  my  note. 

I  remain,  with  high  esteem,  Sir,         Yours, 

J.  MontuUe 


—131- 


List  of  Taxables  at  Asylum. 

Wyalusing  Assessment    1796,   earliest   known    list    ( Craft ) 
with  spelling  used  by  assessor 
Brunert,  Peter 
Buzard,  Laurence 
Brovost,  John 
Bigdelier,  John 

Beloughne  Chas  (  Wysock's  roll  ) 
Colony,  Mansey 
Demene,  Francis 
Dandilott,  Henry 
Dutremont,  Widowe 
Fromenta,  Elijah 
Keeton,  John 
Lafaber.  Bartholemew 
Laporte,  Bartholemew 
La  Roue,  Caz'a 
Lefeber,  Lewis 
Montale,  John 
Noailles,  Guy 
Obray,  George 
Reo,  Francis 
Sebart,  Sophia 
Talon,  Omer 

1799 
Blacons,  Laucretius 
Buzzard,  Larence 
Becdeliver,  John 
Calling,  Mansey 
Demene,  Francis 
Keating  6  houses 

Larou,  Casimfere 
Lefaver,  Antony 
Lefaver,  Lewis 
Laroue,  Jas. 
Laporte,  B 
Noailles,  Guy 
Hornet,  Charles 

—132— 


Rosset,  John 
Regniei,  Peter 

Bedeliver,  John 
Desmesne,  Francis 
Laport 

Larou,  Carisime 
Lefebe,  Ant. 
Laroue,  Jos. 
Hornet,  Charles 
Rosset.  John 

Bedelevere,  John 
Brevost,  John 
Buzzard,  Law 
Collein, 

De  Noailles,  Louis 
Demene,  Fr. 
Hornet 
Laporte 
Laroue,  C. 
Lefeber,  L. 
Lefeber,  A. 
Laroue,  Jos. 
Regnier,  P. 
Rosset,  Mer. 


1800 


1801 


store  &  house 

Gristmill 
House  &  distillery 


1802 


1000  acres  unimproved  land 


Bigdelaver,  John 
Brevost,  John 
Buzard,  Laurance 
Asylum  Co. 
Collins,  Mansey 
Demene,  Frances 
Homet,  Charles 
Leport,  Bartholemew 
Lefever,  Anthony 
Lefever,  Lewis 
Obrey,  George 
Regnea,  Peter 
These  assessments  are  recorded  as  in  Wyalusing  twp. 

—133— 


Plan  of  Association   of  the   Asylum 
Company, 

AS  ESTABLISHED   APRIL    22,    1794— 
Improved  April  27,   1795. 

Articles  of  agreement  made  and  entered  into  this  22nd  day  of 
April,  1794,  by  and  between  Robert  Morris,  Esq.  of  the  City 
of  Phila.  and  Senator  from  the  State  of  Pa.  in  the  Senate  of  the 
U.  S.  on  behalf  of  himself  and  others  his  associates  of  the  one 
part  and  John  Nicholson  Esqr.  of  said  city,  Comptroller  Gen- 
eral of  the  State  of  Pa.  on  behalf  of  himself  &  others  his  as- 
sociates of  the  other  part:  Witnesseth — that  the  said  parties 
have  entered  into  an  association  or  company,  for  the  purpose 
of  settling  &  improving  one  or  more  tracts  of  country  within 
the  state  of  Pa.,  having  already  acquired  the  titles  to  a  number 
of  valuable  tracts  of  land,  situated  in  Luzerne,  Northumberland 
&  Northampton  Counties,  which  they  are  ready  to  dispose  of 
to  actual  settlers  and  to  such  others  as  will  send  settlers  upon 
the  lands  they  purchase.  And  in  order  to  insure  the  best  and 
most  faithful  management  of  the  affairs  of  this  Company  for 
the  benefit  not  only  of  said  parties,  but  also  of  all  who  may 
eventually  become  interested  therein,  the  following  articles  are 
agreed  to  &  adopted  viz : — 

1.  This  association  shall  be  styled  the  Asylum  Company. 

2.  The  capital  stock  of  this  Co.  shall  consist  of  lands,  some 
of  which  are  already  purchased,  &  others  are  to  be  purchased, 
within  the  state  of  Pa.  to  the  extent  of  1,000,000  Acres  there- 
about. 

3.  The  said  capital  stock  in  lands  shall  be  represented  by 
so  may  shares  or  actions,  of  200  acres  each,  as  will  amount  to 
the  quantity  of  land  actually  and  bona  fide  the  property  of  the 
company. 

4.  The  affairs  and  business  of  this  Company  shall  be  con- 
ducted by  a  Board  of  Managers,  to  be  elected  annually  by  the 
holders  of  shares  or  actions,  each  share  entitling  the  holder  to 
a  vote  to  be  given  personally  or  by  proxy  duly  authorized. 

5.  The  Board  of  Managers  shall  consist  of  a  President  &  4 

—134— 


members  to  be  chosen  from  amongst  the  share  holders  of  whom 
the  President  and  2  members  shall  be  a  quorum  competent  to 
transact  business. 

5.  The  said  board  shall  have  authority  to  employ  a  secre- 
tary &  treasurer  if  necessary. 

7.  The  said  Board  of  Managers  shall  be  authorized  to  em- 
ploy one  or  more  agent  or  agents,  &  one  or  more  surveyor  or 
surveyors  to  be  stationed  at  the  most  convenient  place,  for  the 
sale  &  survey  of  lauds  to  be  bought  &  sold  by  the  company. 

9.  The  Board  of  Managers  shall  have  power  to  purchase  for 
&  on  acc't  of  the  Co.  any  lands  in  Pa.  particularly  those  lying 
in  the  tract  of  district  of  county  above  described,  (provided  al- 
ways that  the  quantity  belonging  to  Co.  shall  not  exceed  1,000,- 
000  acres)  on  the  lo^^est  price  and  the  best  terms  they  can  ob- 
tain them,  consistently  with  the  real  interests  of  the  Co. 

9.  The  title  to  all  such  lands  shall  be  vested  in  the  Presi- 
dent of  the  Board  of  Managers  for  the  use  of  the  Co.,  who 
shall  execute  a  declaration  of  trust  to  be  deposited  in  the  Bank 
of  the  U.  S.,  subject  only  to  the  occasional  calls  of  the 
Board  of  Managers  duly  met  to  transact  business,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  making  additions  thereto,  as  purchases  are  made,  &  in 
order  to  show  the  same  to  share-holders  or  purchasers  when  re- 
quired. 

10.  The  Board  of  Managers  shall  have  authority  to  sell  or 
contract,  either  by  themselves  or  by  means  of  their  agents,  for 
the  sale  of  any  lands  or  lots  belonging  to  the  company  with 
such  purchasers  as  shall  agree  to  become  settlers  or  shall  engage 
to  place  settlers  on  the  lauds  or  lots  they  purchase.  The  price 
to  the  first  purchases,  or  those  who  purchase  within  one   year, 

shall  not  be  less  than  $3  per  acre  nor  shall  more  than acres 

be  sold  to  any  one  person.     The  purchasers  may  have  credit  for 

5  yrs,  paying  interest  to  commence  the  3rd    year   at  the  rate  of 

6  per  ct.  per  annum  on  the  amounts  for  which  they  take  credit. 
Purchasers  paying  ready  money  shall  have  a  discount  of  2  yrs 
on  the  amount  they  pay  &  also  a  discount  of  interest  for  the 
unexpired  time  of  2  yrs  if  they  make  payments  after  the  pur- 
chase and  previous  to  the  expiration  of  2  yrs. 

11.  The  President  for  the  time  being,  shall  in  presence 
of  the  Board  of  Managers,  execute  all  deeds  of  conveyance  to 

—135— 


the  purchasers  of  which  proper  record  shall  be  kept  by  the 
Secretary  in  a  book  to  be  opened  by  him  for  the  purpose,  which 
book  shall  be  produced  at  every  meeting  of  the  board. 

13.  The  board  or  their  agents  may  covenant  to  make  title 
to  the  purchasers  when  the  payments  are  completed,  or  title 
may  be  granted  immediately  &  mortgage  taken  to  secure  the 
payment  of  the  bonds. 

DUTIES  OF  SECRETARY. 

13.  The  Secretarjr  shall  attend  every  meeting  of  the  Board 
of  Managers,  he  shall  keep  regular  minutes  of  their  proceed- 
ings, he  shall  summon  such  meetings  when  directed  by  the 
President  or  upon  application  of  any  two  or  more  members  of 
the  Board  or  upon  application  of  20  share-holders,  by  sending 
a  notice  in  writing  to  the  President  and  each  member,  mention- 
ing the  time  and  place  of  such  meeting. 

14.  Vacancies  which  may  happen  in  the  Board  of  Managers 
by  death,  resignation  or  removal  to  a  distance  of  any  member 
or  members  may  be  supplied  by  an  election  of  the  board  for  the 
remainder  of  the  year,  until  the  next  general  election  by  the 
share-holders. 

15.  The  Board  of  Managers  shall  have  power  to  make  use 
of  the  Bank  of  the  U.  S.  instead  of  a  treasurer,  if  they  find 
upon  experiment  that  they  can  make  it  answer  the  purpose ; 
if  not,  they  may  choose  a  treasurer  who  shall  be  paid  for  his 
services,  &  give  security  for  the  faithful  discharge  of  his  trust. 
He  shall  deposit  all  the  monies  of  the  Co.  in  the  bank  for  the 
use  of  the  Co.  which  shall  only  be  drawn  out  at  such  times  &  in 
such  sums  as  the  Board  of  Managers  may  direct ;  and  he  shall 
safely  keep  all  notes  bonds  &  mortgages  &  other  obligations  of 
the  Co.  He  shall  collect  all  monies  for  the  same  as  they  be- 
come due  &  place  the  sums  he  so  collects  in  the  bank  in  man- 
ner aforesaid. 

16.  The  Board  of  Managers  shall  cause  h  set  of  books  to  be 
opened  &  kept  (by  the  treasurer  if  they  shall  choose  one,  or  by 
the  Secretary  if  they  have  no  Treasurer)  wherein  shall  be  regu- 
larly entered  a  proper  account  of  all  the  purchases,  of  all  the 
sales,  of  all  monies  received  and  paid,  of  all  notes  bonds  & 
mortgages  &  specialties  of  every  sort  &  kind,  &  of  all  expendi- 

—136— 


turcs,  &  these  acc'ts  shall  be  so  settled  &  adjusted,  and  an  ab- 
stract thereof  shall  together  with  the  said  books,  be  laid  before 
the  shareholders  at  every  annual  meeting  to  be  held  for  the 
purpose  of  electing  the  Board  of  Managers,  &  at  every  such 
meeting  the  Board  of  Managers  shall  give  a  full  &  fair  acc't  of 
tjieir  proceedings  &  of  the  actual  state  of  the  Go's  affairs  en- 
trusted to  them. 

17.  The  Board  of  Managers  shall  i)rovide  an  office  in  the  city 
of  Philadelphia  wherein  to  hold  their  meetings,  &  the  Secretary 
shall  attend  on  such  days  in  each  week  and  hours  in  those  days, 
as  the  Board  may  direct,  for  the  purpose  of  laying  before  any 
shareholder  that  may  desire  it,  the  book  of  minutes  the  book  of 
acc'ts,  &  to  give  such  other  information  respecting  the  estate 
and  affairs  of  the  Co.  as  will  convey  a  true  idea  of  the  actual 
situation. 

HOAV    TRANSFERS  ARE    TO     BE  MADE. 

18.  The  certificate  for  shares  or  actions  shall  be  transfer- 
able at  the  pleasure  of  the  holder,  but  the  transfers  must  be 
made  by  the  holder  in  person,  or  by  his  atty,  at  the  office  of  the 
Board  of  Managers  in  presence  of  the  Secretary  who  shall  keep 
a  record  of  all  such  transfers  in  a  book  to  be  kept  for  that  purpose, 
which  transfer  shall  be  signed  by  the  person  so  transferring, 
who  shall  also  deliver  up  the  old  certificate  &  new  ones  shall 
be  issued  to  the  same  am't  to  the  transfere. 

19.  The  Board  of  Managers  shall  employ  all  monies  rec'd  in 
the  purchase  of  lands  or  in  paying  for  what  they  have  until 
their  contracts  &  engagements  shall  be  performed  and  fulfilled; 
after  which  they  shall  declare  &  pay  such  dividends  every  year, 
or  oftener  if  sums  are  rec'd  to  make  it  worth  while  to  the  stock 
holders  as  will  absorb  the  am't  of  their  receipts  to  the  time  of 
such  declaration. 

20.  The  Board  of  Managers  shall  cause  a  statement  of  the 
Co's.  purchases  &  sales  to  be  made  out  &  printed  every 
six  mos.  which  shall  show  the  quantity  of  land  purchased 
to  that  time,  &  the  prices  pd  for  the  same  also  the  quantity 
sold  to  that  time  and  the  prices  obtained,  so  that  a  fair  esti- 
mate can  be  made  of  what  remains,  and  of  the  rising  value 
thereof;  one  copy  of  the  said  statement  shall  be  regularly  trans- 

—137— 
9 


mitted  to  each  share  holder  agreeably   to  the  address  which  he 
shall  leave  at  the  Go's  office. 

21.  This  Co.  shall  exist  for  15  yrs,  and  at  the  eud  of  that 
time,  all  remaining  lands,  bonds,  notes,  debts  &  other  property 
of  the  Co.  shall  be  sold  for  cash  only,  at  public  aucticni  under  the 
direction  of  the  Board  of  Managers  the  premises  being  first  ad- 
vertised for  6  consecutive  months  in  the  public  newspapers  of 
most  note  in  Pa,  &  such  other  of  the  states  as  the  Board  shall 
think  necessary,  fixing  the  time  and  place  of  holding  said  sale. 

22.  Within  60  days  after  such  sale,  the  whole  acc'ts  of  said 
Co.  shall  be  made  up  &  closed  &  the  whole  balance  shall  be 
equally  divided  amongst  the  number  of  shares,  &such  dividend 
shall  then  be  payable  to  every  share  holder  upon  demand  at  the 
bank  of  the  U.  S.  or  such  other  bank  as  the  Board  may  then 
appoint  &  announce  in  the  newspapers. 

Here  follows  the  usual  covenants  each  party  binding  him- 
self in  the  sum  of  $1,000,000  to  faithfully  carry  out  these  arti- 
cles and  they  are  signed  by  the  parties — Robert  Morris  &  John 
Nicholson,  in  presence  of  John  Keating,  &  Garrett  Cottringer 
April  22  1794. 

Feb  21,  1795  it  was  resolved  to  pay  a  dividend  of  6  per  ct 
per  annum  on  each  action  estimated  at  $500.  &  in  case  suffi- 
cient monies  were  not  received  to  make  these  payments,  the 
board  was  to  borrow  enough  to  enable  them  to  make  the  payt. 

New  Articles,  Whereas  April  22  1794  certain  articles  of 
April  25.  1795.  agreement  containing  a  plan  of  association 
or  Co.  styled  the  Asylum  Co.  were  entered  into  between  Robt. 
Morris  &  John  Nicholson  in  behalf  of  himself  &  others  his 
associates  of  the  other  part,  as  by  reference  thereunto  may 
more  fully  and  at  large  appear. 

<fc  whereas  The  interests  of  the  Associates  aforesaid  &  also  of 
the  said  Robert  Morris  in  the  said  Co.  hath  been  purchased  by 
the  aforesaid  John  Nicholson  whereby  the  right  of  the  whole 
is  vested  in  the  said  Nicholson  except  as  to  the  number  of  shares 
which  have  been  heretofore  sold. 

(The  exact  date  not  to  be  found.) 

cfe  whereas  the  capital  stock  of  the  Co.  consisting  of  1.000.000 
acres  of   land  in  Pa.  except  so  far  forth  as  the  same  is  repre- 

—138— 


sented  by  the  shares  heretofore  sold  as  aforesaid  is  uow  the 
property  of  the  said  J.  Nicholson 

tfe  whereas  There  were  sundry  engagements  made  by  the  Board 
of  Managers  by  the  said  articles  constituted  in  behalf  of  the 
Co.  part  whereof  are  designed  to  be  altered  as  to  shares  to  be 
disposed  of  in  future  &  others  to  be  confirmed 
&  whereas  other  improvements  in  said  plan  are  deemed  neces- 
sary, it  is  agreed  by  and  between  the  said  John  Nicholson  of 
the  one  part,  &  those  who  shall  become  purchasers  or  holders 
of  shares  in  the  Asylum  Co.  of  the  other  part,  e-xcept  the  holders 
of  shares  already  sold  who  may  not  choose  to  commute  them 
for  certificates  as  hereinafter  permitted 

1  The  name  plan  and  style  of  Association  shall  be  the  same 
as  contained  in  the  articles  entered  into  April  22,  1794  e.xcept 
so  far  as  the  same  shall  be  altered,  amended  or  supplied,  and 
the  residue  of  said  articles  are  hereby  ratified  &  confirmed 

2  The  resolutions  of  the  board  of  Aug  26.  1794  &  Feb  21. 
1795  shall  be  annulled 

3  The  lands  composing  the  1.000.000  acres  shall  be  represent- 
ed by  5000  shares  of  200  acres  each,  are  situated  in  the  counties 
of  Luzerne  &  Northumberland,  as  the  boundaries  of  the  said 
Go's  were  established  at  the  date  of  the  articles  first  mentioned. 

4.  Title  vested  in  Trustees. 

The  said  John  Nicholson  shall  cause  the  titles  to  said  lands 
to  be  vested  in  trustees  who  shall  hold  the  same  in  joint  ten- 
ancy in  trust  to  convey  the  same,  agreeably  to  these  articles  & 
the  articles  made  &  executed  April  22.  1794  &  no  certificate 
shall  issue  for  shares  to  a  greater  amount  than  shall  represent 
the  quantity  so  conveyed  to  the  trustees. 

5.  The  present  trustees  are  Jared  Ingcrsol,  Esq.,  Atty  Gen 
of  the  state  of  Pa.  «fc  Matthew  Clarkson  Mayor  of  the  city  of 
Phila  &  in  case  of  the  death  or  removal  to  a  greater  distance 
than  10  miles  from  the  city  of  Phila  of  any  trustee,  or  in  case 
of  resignation,  another  trustee  shall  be  appointed  by  the  Board 
of  Managers  &  such  conveyances  made  as  shall  vest  the  land  in 
like  manner  in  new  Trustees. 

6  There  shall  be  no  purchases  made  of  land  by  the  Co.,  the 
monies  arising  from  the  sales  of  their  property  to  be  divided 
among  the  shareholders  except  such  part  as  shall  be   dei'ined 

—139— 


necessary  by  a  unanimous  vote  of  the  Board  of  Managers  to  be 
laid  out  in  making  roads  or  other  improvements  to  give  an 
additional  value  to  the  residue  of  the  property  of  the  Co. 

7  All  buildings  &  improvements  on  the  lands  of  the  Co.  are 
the  property  of  the  Co.  &  to  be  disposed  of  as  the  Board  of 
Managers  may  deem  best.  All  the  debts  of  the  Co.  for  those 
improvements  or  any  other  services  rendered  or  done  the  Co. 
shall  be  paid  out  of  the  sales  of  the  property  of  the  Co. 

8.  So  much  of  Art.  10  as  limits  and  directs  either  the  price 
of  land  or  terms  of  credit  is  annulled. 

CONDITIONS   OF    MEMBERSHIP. 

9  Every  owner  of  one  or  more  shares  shall  become  a  member 
of  this  Co.  &  a  party  to  these  articles  in  virtue  of  such 
ownership  as  fully  to  all  intents  &  purposes  whatever  as  if  such 
owners  had  actually  signed  &  sealed  these  presents,  &  cease  to 
be  so  when  he  parts  with  his  share  or  shares. 

SETTLEMENT  OF  CLAIMS. 

10  When  two  or  more  persons  shall  claim  the  same  land  un- 
der different  contracts  with  the  Board  of  Managers  or  where  any 
person  or  persons  shall  claim  a  tract  or  tracts  of  land  under 
contract  or  contracts  with  the  Board  of  Managers  &  the  said 
board  shall  dispute  such  claim,  in  such  cases  a  suit  or  suits 
may  be  commenced  vs  the  said  board,  in  the  Co.  of  Phila.  in 
the  Supreme  Court  of  Pa.  or  in  the  federal  circuit  Court  of  Pa. 
by  the  person  or  persons  claiming,  &  one  or  more  feigned  issues 
joined  in  order  to  determine  the  rights  of  the  parties  &  trials 
had  thereon,  in  the  City  of  Phila,  &  the  said  Board  shall  re- 
quest the  trustees  to  convey  the  land  so  claimed  to  the  person 
or  persons  in  whose  favor  such  determination  shall  be  had. 
(The  farther  part  of  this  article  defines  at  length  the  modes  of 
process,  &c.) 

11  All  covenants  articles  of  agreements  or  contracts  made  by 
the  Board  of  Managers  or  by  their  agents  for  the  sale  of  lands 
shall  be  to  and  in  the  name  of  the  individuals  composing  the 
Board  &  shall  be  to  them  or  the  survivor  of  them,  &  the  exec- 
utors &  administrators  of  such  survivor  to  this  intent  expressly, 
that  suits  shall  be  brought  in  their  name  for  the  use  of  the  said 

—140— 


Co.  (also  provides  for  depositing  contracts  &c  with  tbe  Secre- 
tary.) 

12  The  Trustees  for  the  time  being  sliall  upon  receiving  a 
request  in  writing  signed  by  the  President  &  Board  of  Managers 
attested  by  the  Secretary  execute  a  deed  or  deeds  of  convey- 
ance in  fee  simple  to  the  purchaser  or  purchasers  for  any  tract 
or  tracts  of  land  which  may  have  been  sold  by  the  Board  or 
their  agents;  it  being  1st  certified  by  the  said  President  & 
attested  by  the  Secretary  in  the  manner  as  before  provided  to 
the  said  Trustees,  that  the  consideration  money  hath  been  paid 
or  secured  to  be  paid,  if  paid  that  it  hath  been  deposited  in 
one  of  tne  banks  to  the  credit  of  the  President  &  Managers  of 
this  Co.  if  secured  that  such  securities  have  been  deposited 
agreeably  to  Art  11. 

13  The  President  «fc  ^Managers  .shall  be  elcctedevery  year  at 
the  Co's  office  April  8  after  public  notice  given. 

14  It  is  agreed  by  the  .said  J.  Nicholson  party  of  the  1st 
part,  that  the  dividend  or  dividends  shall  not  be  less  than  $30 
per  annum  on  each  share  issued  under  this  agreement,  and  that 
if  the  cash  arising  from  the  sales  does  not  amount  to  that  sum, 
he  the  said  party  of  the  1st  part  doth  hereby  promise  and  bind 
himself  his  heirs  and  administrators  to  advance  &  lend  to  the 
Board  of  Managers  such  sum  as  may  be  necessary  in  aildition 
to  what  they  have  on  hand  of  the  Co's  money  to  enable  them 
to  pay  $30  on  each  share,  the  Board  of  Managers  granting  their 
obligation  to  the  said  party  of  the  Ist  part  to  repay  said  ad- 
vances out  of  the  1st  monies  they  may  receive  thereafter  on 
acc't  of  the  Co.  except  such  as  the  said  Board  are  obliged  by 
Art.  10  to  pay  to  persons  recovering  vs.  the  Board  &  also  ex- 
cepting the  monies  received  for  a  contingent  fund. 

15  The  President  and  Managers  shall  be  allowed  a  commis- 
sion of  2^  ^  on  the  amt  of  sales  they  make,  receivable  by  them 
only  out  of  the  payments  actually  reed,  or  as  the  cash  comes  into 
the  Co's  possession,  which  commissions  shall  be  divided  in  5 
equal  parts  1  for  the  President  &  1  for  each  member  of  the 
Board,  &  each  manager  each  year  shall  receive  $1000  on  .acct 
of  the  same. 

16  The, President  and  Mansgers  shall  establish  a  nin.ie  l)y 
which  dividends  can  be  paid  in  Europe. 

—141— 


17  (Form  of  the  certificates  of  stock.) 

18  The  members  of  the  old  Co.  may  at  their  option  transfer 
their  stock  to  the  new,  otherwise  their  rights  are  not  impaired. 

19  (Method  of  Altering  or  Amending  the  plan.) 

ARTICLES  OF  AGREEMENT  &  ASSOCIATION. 

Made  &  executed  the  26th  day  of   October   Ad   1801    between 

the  members  of  the  Asylum  Company. 

Whereas  the  Asylum  Company  as  constituted  by  articles, 
dated  April  22,  1794  &  improved  by  articles  dated  April  25, 
1795  &  duly  recorded  could  not  be  perfected  in  the  manner 
therein  proposed,  in  consequence  of  the  inability  of  Robert 
Morris  and  the  late  John  Nicholson  to  perform  their  covenants 
therein  contained,  arising  from  pecuniary  embarassments  & 
judgments  obtained  against  them  and  the  subscribers  hereto 
have  been  in  consequence  compelled  to  preserve  and  protect 
their  rights  &  interests  in  the  said  company  by  purchase  made 
and  about  to  be  made  at  the  Marshal's  sales  for  the  district  of 
Pa  whereby  all  the  interest  and  estate  belonging  to  the  said 
Co.  excepting  the  proportion  of  739  shares  therein,  are  fully 
and  completely  vested  in  us — We  do  for  ourselves  and  each  of 
us,  our  and  each  of  our  heirs,  executors,  administrators,  &  as- 
signs mutually  covenant,  promise,  grant  &  agree  each  with  the 
rest  &  with  each  other  in  the  manner  following,  that  is  to  say. 

Article  1.  That  for  the  purpose  of  advancing  and  consolida- 
ting the  interests  of  all  concerned  in  the  purchase  aforesaid  as 
well  as  of  those  who  are  holders  of  the  said  739  shares — the 
whole  estate  and  interest  so  purchased  or  which  may  hereafter 
be  purchased,  shall  be  divided  into  1261  equal  parts  or  shares, 
each  of  which  shall  be  represented  by  a  certificate  thereof,  in 
such  form  as  the  IManagers  herein  after  mentioned  shall  declare 
&  establish,  &  shall  be  held  in  the  following  })roportious  or 
numbers,  that  is  to  say 


shares 

shares 

Wm.  Cramond 

221 

Archibald  McCall 

230 

Louis  de  Noailles 

95 

James  Gibson 

70 

Abram  Dubois 

54 

William  Cramond 

208 

Robert  Porter 

54 

John  Ashley 

329 

424 

887 

837 

=     1261  total 

But  such  of  the  foregoing,  as  claim  under  shares  actually  is- 
sued under  the  former  Co.  shall  transfer  «fc  deliver  up  the  cer- 
tificates of  such  shares  prior  to  receiving  certificates  under  this 
association. 

Article  II.  That  the  holders  of  the  said  739  shares  shall  be 
entitled  to  exchange  the  same  within  such  time,  and  in  such 
manner  as  the  managers  under  this  Association  may  limit  &  di- 
rect, for  an  equal  number  under  this  Association  upon  transfer- 
ring the  same  with  all  the  right  title  &  interest  under  the  afore- 
said articles  for  the  benefit  of  this  Association,  &  the  shares  so  is- 
sued in  exchange  shall  in  all  respects  be  on  the  same  footing  as 
the  rest  derived  from  the  said  purchase. 

Article  III.  That  each  share  issued  under  this  association, 
which  shall  be  denominated  the  Asyhim  Com2>any  shall  repre- 
sent &  entitle  the  holder  to  that  portion  of  interest  in  the  same 
that  such  share  bears  to  the  whole  number  issued,  so  that  in 
case  all  the  said  739  shares  shall  be  exchanged  then  the  whole 
number  under  the  same  shall  be  2000  shares  &  each  share  rep- 
resent &  entitle  the  holder  to  a  2000th  part  of  the  whole  capi- 
tal stock  of  the  Association. 

Article  IV.  That  the  legal  title  to  the  lands  of  this  Associa- 
tion shall  be  vested  as  heretofore  in  2  or  more  trustees,  who 
shall  hold  the  same  ia  joint  tenancy,  in  trust  to  convey  the 
same  to  purchasers  and  others,  agreeably  to  the  articles  &  in 
case  of  the  death,  resignation  or  removal  of  them,  or  either  of 
them,  to  a  greater  distance  than  10  miles  from  the  city  of 
Phila.  the  B(>ard  of  Managers  shall  supply  the  place  of  such 
Trustee  or  Trustees  by  appointing  another  or  others  «fc  such 
conveyances  shall  be  made  as  shall  vest  the  titles  in  the  new 
Trustee  or  Trustees,  in  the  same  manner  as  they  were  in  the 
former  &  so  on  toties  quoties. 

Article  V.  All  the  concerns  and  interests  of  this  Association 
shall  be  conducted  &  managed  by  five  persons  to  be  annually 
chosen  by  and  from  among  the  shareholders,  who  shall  form  a 
Board  of  ^Managers.  The  said  Board  shall  elect  one  of  their 
number  President.  The  President  &  1  manager  or  3  managers 
in  the  absence  of  the  President  shall  constitute  a  quorum  to 
transact  all  business  except  th(  sale  or  purchase  of  any  property 

—143— 


of,  or  for  this  Association  which  shall  require  the  consent  of  4 
of  the  Board. 

Article  VI.  The  managers  shall  be  chosen  by  the  share  hold- 
ers in  person  or  by  proxy  annually  on  the  2nd  Monday  in  Jan. 
at  the  Go's  office.  The  election  shall  commence  at  the  hour  of 
10  A.  M.  &  public  notice  thereof  shall  be  given  at  least  15  days 
before  the  election — the  number  of  votes  to  vehich  each  share 
holder  shall  be  entitled  at  every  election  shall  be  according  to 
the  number  of  shares  he  shall  hold  in  the  proportions  following 
that  is  to  say 

For  1  share  and  not  more  than  2 — 1  vote 
For  every  2  shares  above  2  &  not  exceeding  10 — 1  vote 
"         "    4     "         "       10         "         "  30—1     " 

"         "    6     "         "       30         "         "  60—1     " 

"         "    8     "         "       60         "         "        100—1     " 
"         "  10     "         "     100         "         "  ...1     "    But 

no  share  holder  shall  be  entitled  to  more  than  30  votes  &  no 
share  shall  confer  the  right  of  suffrage  unless  held  three 
calendar  months  before  the  election.  For  the  remainder  of  the 
present  year  and  until  the  next  election  William  Cramond,  John 
Ashley,  Louis  de  Noailles,  John  Travis  &  James  Gibson  shall 
be  &  they  are  hereby  appointed  managers  of  this  Associa- 
tion. 

Article  VII.  The  Board  of  Managers  shall  have  power  to 
settle  and  improve,  to  sell  &  dispose  of  the  land,  property 
and  stock  of  this  Association,  in  such  manner  &  upon  such 
terms  as  they  shall  from  time  to  time  think  proper,  &  where 
any  clairiis  of  title  by  others  may  interfere  with  those  of  this 
Association  they  may  compound,  compromise  &  settle  the 
same  by  relinquishing  the  claims  of  the  Association  or  other- 
wise &  direct  such  instruments  to  be  executed  by  the  trustees 
as  may  be  necessrry  to  carry  such  settlement  into  complete  ef- 
fect (The  Board  of  Managers  fix  rates  and  receive  shares  in  pay- 
ment) &  the  said  Board  of  Managers  shall  generally  have  power 
to  do  &  perform  all  such  acts  &  things  &  employ  such  persons 
as  may  be  needful  &  necessary  for  carrying  into  effect  the  de- 
signs of  this  Association. 

Article  VIII.  The  Board  of  Managers  shall  for  the  purposes 
aforesaid,  have  power  from  time  to   time  to  raise  such  sums  of 

—144— 


money  as  they  may  judge  necessary  by  equal  rates,  or  assess- 
ment on  the  shares,  and  the  sura  so  from  time  to  time  rated  on 
each  share,  shall  be  published  in  one  or  more  daily  papers  in 
the  City  of  Philadelphia  for  thirty  days,  to  give  the  share- 
holders notice  thereof.  And  all  shares  on  which  such  assessments 
shall  remain  unpaid  six  months  from  the  expiration  of  the  said 
thirty  days,  shall  be  thereby  forfeited,  and  so  much  thereof 
(but  not  less  than  one  share)  as  shall  be  necessary  to  pay  such 
assessments  and  charges,  shall  be  sold  for  the  benefit  of  the  as- 
sociation and  if  purchased  by  the  Managers  shall  be  held  in 
trust  for  the  Association,  in  the  manner  mentioned  in  the  last 
article. 

Article  IX.  The  Board  of  Managers  shall  appoint  a  Secretary 
at  such  salary  as  they  may  fix,  &  also  such  Agents  Surveyors  & 
other  officers  &  at  such  compensations  as  they  from  time  to 
time  shall  fix  and  determine. 

Article  X.  The  Secretary  shall  attend  the  meetings  of  the 
Board  of  Managers,  he  shall  keep  regular  minutes  of  their  pro- 
ceedings; he  shall  summon  such  meetings  when  so  directed  by 
the  President,  or  upon  application  of  any  two  or  more  members 
of  the  Board,  or  upon  application  in  writing  of  any  five  persons 
holding  more  than  twenty  shares,  by  sending  a  notice  in  writ- 
ing to  the  President  and  each  member,  mentioning  the  time 
and  place  of  such  meeting. 

Article  XI.  The  Board  of  Managers  shall  cause  a  set  of  books 
to  be  opened  and  kept  by  the  Secretary  wherein  shall  be  regu- 
larly entered  a  proper  account  of  all  the  purchases,  of  all  sales, 
of  all  monies  received  and  paid,  all  notes,  bonds,  mort- 
gages and  specialties,  or  notes  of  every  sort  and  kinu,  and  of 
all  expenditures;  and  these  accounts  shall  be  so  settled  and  ad- 
justed as  that  an  abstract  thereof  shall  together  with  the  said 
books,  be  laid  before  the  shareholders  at  every  annual  meeting 
to  be  held  for  the  purpose  of  electing  managers ;  and  at  every 
such  meeting,  the  Board  of  Managers  shall  give  a  full  and  fair 
account  of  their  proceedings  and  of  the  actual  state  of  the 
Company's  estate  and  of  the  affairs  entrusted  to  them. 

Article  XII.  The  Board  of  Managers  shall  provide  an  olHcc 
in  the  city  of  Phila.  where  their  meetings  shall  be  held,  &  the 
Secretary  shall  attend  on  such  days   in  each  week  &  hours  of 

—145— 


those  days  as  the  Board  may  direct  for  the  purpose  of  laying 
before  aay  shareholder  who  may  desire  it,  the  book  of  minutes, 
the  books  of  accounts  &  to  give  such  other  information  respect- 
ing the  estate  &  affairs  of  the  Co.  as  will  convey  a  true  idea  of 
their  actual  situation. 

Article  XIII.  The  compensations  of  the  managers  shall  be 
fixed  by  the  shareholders  at  an  annual  meeting  and  when  once 
fixed  shall  so  remain  until  altered  at  a  subsequent  annual  meet- 
ing such  compensation,  however,  in  no  case  shall  exceed  five 
hundred  dollars  per  annum  for  each  manager. 

Article  XIV.  Vacancies  which  may  happen  in  the  Board  of 
Managers  by  death  resignation  or  removal,  of  one  or  more  mem- 
bers to  a  greater  distance  than  ten  miles  from  the  City  of  Phil- 
adelphia may  be  supplied  by  an  election  of  the  Board  for  the 
remainder  of  the  time  for  which  the  former  manager  was 
elected. 

Article  XV.  All  the  monies  of  the  Association  shall  be  de- 
posited as  received  in  one  or  all  of  the  Banks  in  the  city  of 
Philadelphia,  to  the  credit  of  the  Association  and  shall  be 
drawn  therefrom  only  by  checks,  signed  by  the  Secretary  and 
countersigned  by  two  of  the  managers. 

Article  XVI.  The  certificate  for  shares  shall  be  transferable  at 
the  pleasure  of  the  holders,  the  transfer  must  be  made  in  per- 
son or  by  an  attorney  in  the  presence  of  the  Secretary  in  a  book 
to  be  kept  for  that  purpose  to  be  signed  by  the  person  trans- 
ferring &  a  memorandum  thereof  indorsed  &  signed  by  the 
Secretary  on  the  certificate.  In  case  of  lost  certificates  of 
shares,  the  Board  shall  prescribe  the  mode  by  which  the  same 
may  be  renewed. 

Article  XVII.  All  monies  rec'd  from  sales  or  otherwise  which 
shall  remain  after  deducting  the  necessary  charges  and  ex- 
penses &  reserving  what  may  in  the  opinion  of  the  Managers 
be  necessary  for  the  current  expenditures  &  incidental  charges 
shall  be  divided  equally  among  the  shareholders  of  which  the 
Managers  shall  give  public  notice. 

Article  XVIII.  Every  holder  of  one  or  more  shares,  by  trans- 
fer or  exchange  of  the  shares  of  the  old  Co.  shall  thereby  be- 
come a  party  to  these  Articles  as   fully  to   all  intents  &   pur- 

—146— 


poses  whatever,  as  if  such  holder  had  actually  signed  &  sealed 
these  presents,  &  cease  to  be  so  when  he  parts  with  his  share 
or  shares. 

Article  XIX.  The  trustees  for  the  time  being  shall  upon  re- 
ceiving a  request  in  writing  signed  by  the  Board  of  Managers 
&  attested  by  the  Secretary  convey  such  real  estate  or  prop- 
erty vested  in  them  as  may  be  mentioned  in  such  request  &  in 
manner  as  therein  desired. 

Article  XX.  The  capital  stock  of  this  Association  consists  of 
all  the  land  conveyed  under  the  former  articles,  at  that  time 
supposed  to  consist  of  a  million  acres,  for  the  whole  of  which 
warrants  have  been  obtained  from  the  state.  As  the  whole  of 
this  amount  may  not  be  obtained  from  the  interfering  claims  of 
others,  the  managers  may,  if  they  think  it  advantageous  to  the 
Co.  purchase  lands  to  supply  any  deficiency  in  this  quantity, 
provided  such  purchases  in  addition  to  the  quantity  ascertained 
to  belong  to  the  Association  shall  not  exceed  1.000.000  of  acres. 

Article  XXI.  This  Association  shall  continue  for  15  years  & 
at  the  end  of  that  time  all  remaining  land,  bonds,  notes,  debts 
&  other  property  of  the  Association  shall  be  sold  for  cash  of 
approved  notes,  not  exceeding  90  days  at  public  auction  under 
the  direction  of  the  Board  of  Managers  the  premises  being  first 
advertised  for  6  succeeding  months  in  one  or  more  newspapers 
of  Phila.,  N.  Y.  &  Baltimore,  fixing  the  time  &  place  for  hold- 
ing the  said  sale. 

Article  XXII.  Within  6  months  after  such  sale  all  the  ac- 
counts of  the  said  Association  shall  be  made  out  &  closed,  & 
the  whole  balance  shall  be  equally  divided  among  the  number 
of  shares,  &  such  dividend  shall  then  be  payable  to  every  share 
holder  upon  demand,  at  the  Bank  of  the  U.  S.  or  such  other 
Bank  as  the  said  Board  may  then  appoint  &  announce  in  the 
newspapers. 


—147— 


In  witness  whereof  the  parties  to  these  presents  have  inter- 
changably  set  their  hands  and  affixed  their  seals  the  day  &  year 
first  above  written. 

Sealed  &  delivered  in  William  Cramond        (L.  S.) 

presence  of  Louis  de  Noailles       (L.  S.) 

John  Markoe        <  Abraham  Dubois  (L.  S.) 

William  Nicholson  Robert  Porter  (L.  S.) 

Archibald  McCall      (L.  S.) 
James  Gibson  (L.  S.) 

William  Cramond        (L.  S.) 
John  Ashley  (L.  S.) 

On  the  26th  day  of  November  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one 
thousand  eight  hundred  &  one,  before  me  Edward  Shippen 
Esq  Chief  Justice  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Pennsylvania  per- 
sonally appeared  William  Cramond,  Louis  deNoailles,  Abraham 
Dubois,  Robert  Porter,  Archibald  McCall,  James  Gibson  & 
John  Ashel,  in  the  above  written  articles  of  agreement  &  Asso- 
ciation named,  and  in  all  due  form  of  law  acknowledged  the 
same  to  be  their  and  each  of  ther  act  and  Deed  and  desired  that 
it  may  be  recorded  as  such.  Witness  my  hand  and  seal  the  day 
&  year  aforesaid. 

Edward  Shippen     (L.  S.) 


-148- 


French  Accounts  in    Possession 
of  Author, 

Dates  covering  year  1794  and  a  few  in  1795,  most 
of  them  written  iu  French;  26  in  all;  for  exam  pies 
see  among  illustrations  one  signed  by  Louis  Paul 
d'Autremont  and  one  signed  by  Talon. 


Eight  signed  by  Dupetithouars,  being  certifi- 
cates of  work  done  at  the  big  house,  inside  and 
out;  building  of  shops  for  Charles,  Picard  and 
Aubrey;  fitting  up  "  the  priest's  "  house;  cleaning 
cellar  of  Nores'  house;  Blanchard's  account  for 
mason  work,  or  assisting  mason  "Donmead''  in- 
cluding "  one-third  of  a  day  hunting  slate  stones 
for  Beaulieu's  chimney;"  account  of  kettles 
bought  of  Enoch  Skeer  for  potash  making;  one 
agreeing  to  pay  for  a  canoe  which  he  had  bor- 
rowed and  "which  has  been  taken  away  from 
our  landing.'' 

Six  signed  by  Talon,  including  account  of 
Joseph  Town,  carpenter,  for  building  barn  for 
Talon;  same  for  work  on  Beaulieu's  house,  and 
barn;  work  on  "la  grande  maison  ''  (see  illustra- 
tion) account  of  shop  keepers  and  servants. 

An  order  on  Mr.  Hoops  to  pay  M.  Montulle  for 
planks  for  "  la  grange,  and  other  houses  belong- 
ing to  the  company." 

—149— 


Joseph  Lowry  gives  an  order  on  Dupetithouars 
calling  him  "Captain  Petetiox." 

Three  receipts  of  Brevost  for  money  received 
from  "Asylum  Company,"  seventy  dollars  of 
which  was  for  clearing  land  sold  him  by  the 
company. 

Two  receipts  for  money  paid  by  Adam  Hoops 
to  Louis  Paul  d'Autremont  and  one  to  Alexander 
d'Autremont. 

Receipted  account  of  Wallois,  very  evidently 
the  butler  whom  Talon  dismissed. 

Several  receipts  for  money  paid  by  company, 
signed  Lefebvre,  one  to  M.  Chedricoorte. 

Two  signed  by  Beaulieu,  accounts  with  Hoops. 

One  signed  by  Aubrey,  giving  power  of  attor- 
ney to  Talon  to  close  up  his  accounts,  as  he  was 
evidently  leaving  Asylum. 


—150— 


ses  bullt< 


A    DO-,  -„ ablted  by  the  French,  lo 

A.  J".  Biles  ;  g  French,  afterward  J.  Biles  ;  ;.  Hornet  ■  I  Frei 
Hornet,  DOW  slandiDK  ;  J)  French,  near  C  Stevens' barn  ;  at 
Laporte  ;  (  Freuch  still  house  ;  u  Aubrey's  smith  shop  ; 

..ma*..;,.,.  .     c     ;      ;__  ...:..^  dat«  Of  settlement  up 


ndlcstei 


ap  by  le 


/  old  French 


"it'»  Papulation  than  is  known  in  any  such  rad 


L„-  4 1  .V,      .  »t,,o      „    L       J  '      .     .  ■"'"•""  "'  "•'"'  I'l'^  "t  iiic  i^ouiiiij,       juBse    cemeteries 

bandoned  about  1812  ;  «  abandoned  about  1630  ;  ,J  Gordon  loniilyplot;  «  Laporte,  first  used 


.  „      .  ,    -  -       a  Talon  ;  b  probably  Boulogne  ;  c  Sihert,  described 

"■;'■' ■■    ■■■■■"».„„.,    J  !•  ranch,  afterward  Miller;     J:  French,  afterward  R,  B.  Kerrick  ;      (  Cottineau  ; 

ncli    near  Bacon  s  house;     r  House  now  stnndinK  built  by  Judge  Laporte  1839,  now  Hagerman,  risible  from 

u^^location  of  Kerrick  s  famous  camp,  1900  ;  all  origmal  streets  now  used  as  roads  arl  marked  on  map  with  arrows, 
r.  present  day.  nine  cemeteries  have  been  established  witbin  original  plot  of  Asylum,   most  of  them  afterwards  abandoned 
'"•"■  part  of  the  country.     These  cemeteries  a-" '*"'■""*"''   — .-_ '^-    .         -■'.. 


cl  Schufeldt.  afterward  Frensh  ; 
French,  afterward  Morev  :  ri  Fr 
r,  close  to  site  of  house  of  Talon  ; 


?  Wheeler  ;  /  French,  afterward 


)C  SOlJIHf  HfJ  R(  (,||JNAL  LIBRARY  f  AGILITY 

!|i|f!'i||f'if"||'''ifif'lf'if|illl 


AA    (j(j(j<jitj/ibb    2 


